Common Greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Smilax rotundifolia var. crenulata
- Smilax rotundifolia var. quadrangularis
- Phonetic Spelling
- SMY-laks ro-tun-dih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Round-Leaved Greenbrier is a deciduous to semi-evergreen woody vine in the greenbrier family. The common greenbrier is most often found in forests with sandy, moist to dry soils, in woodlands, fields, and pond borders, hedgerows, thickets. Climbing or spreading up to 20', this vine will climb adjacent vegetation if available or sprawl along the ground.
The species is not self-fertile as individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. It spreads primarily by rhizomes and tolerates a wide range of soil types.
Thorns up to 1/3" long are found along the stems. They are pale-colored with black tips. Typically, these thorns are broad at the base, flat and straight. Some stems can remain thorn less.
Has been qualified for threatened status under Canada's Species at Risk Act.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Smilax
- Species:
- rotundifolia
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Stem prickles have been rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve pain, muscle cramps, and twitching. Powdered leaves have been used as dressing on burns, wilted leaves as a poultice on boils. Leaves and stems have been made into a tea for the treatment of rheumatism and stomach problems.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, Central and Southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- Found in the US east of Texas (but excluding North Dakota, Nebraska, Vermont). It ranges from Florida north into southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Wildlife, both birds and animals, will eat the berries and leaves in the late winter and early spring. Included are the Northern Cardinals, white-throated sparrows, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. It provides protective cover for many birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Shoots can be cooked like asparagus. The young leaves can be prepared like spinach or added raw to salads. The roots have a natural gelling agent that can be used as a thickening agent. The cooked root is rich in starch and can be dried and ground into a powder for use in cakes and puddings. A soft drink resembling root beer or sarsaparilla can be made from the roots.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 20 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Vine
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Berries are blue-black with a whitish bloom at maturity, about ¼" across and round. Each berry contains 1-3 seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Greenish-white flowers form in umbels of 3-20 flowers which are individually about 1/4 inch long. This genus is dioecious, with male and female flowers appearing on different plants (i.e. not self-fertile). Each flower hasf 6 yellowish green or green tepals that are joined together at the base. Male flowers have 6 stamens with white anthers. Female flowers have a greenish pistil with 3 short stigmata. The peduncle of each umbel is ½-¾" long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The upper surfaces of the leaves are darker green than the undersides. The leaves are 2-5 inches long, glabrous, rounded, alternate, with 3 to 5 primary veins per leaf. Minute prickles may be present along the lower surface of the veins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Bark Description:
- The bark of an adult plant is thin and smooth, initially green, turning brown with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Sharply 4-angled with many scattered, stiff prickles, climbs with tendrils.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
