Hellfetter Smilax tamnoides

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Smilax

  Species:

  tamnoides

  Family:

  Smilacaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  The prickles can be rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve localized pains, muscle cramps, and twitching. Tea can be made from the leaves and stems for rheumatism and stomach problems. The wilted leaves have been used to treat boils. The crushed root has been used to wash leg ulcers.

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Root Cutting

  Seed

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  North America

  Distribution:

  Ontario, central and eastern U.S.A., Mexico

  Wildlife Value:

  It is insect-pollinated by both bees and flies .Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves. Game birds and songbirds feed on the berries during fall and winter. Black Bears, Raccoons, and other mammals will also eat the berries. White-Tailed Deer may eat the foliage and stems.

  Play Value:

  Wildlife Cover/Habitat

  Wildlife Food Source

  Wildlife Larval Host

  Climbing Method:

  Tendrils

  Edibility:

  Young leaves, shoots, and tendrils can be added to salads

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Ground Cover

  Native Plant

  Shrub

  Vine

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Ascending

  Climbing

  Dense

  Multi-stemmed

  Growth Rate:

  Rapid

  Maintenance:

  High

  Texture:

  Coarse

  Appendage:

  Prickles

• 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

  High Organic Matter

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Soil pH:

  Acid (<6.0)

  Alkaline (>8.0)

  Neutral (6.0-8.0)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Occasionally Dry

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Black

  Blue

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Summer

  Fruit Type:

  Berry

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  A berry is about ¼" in diameter, dark blue or black, and contains 1-3 seeds

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Gray/Silver

  Green

  White

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Umbel

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Summer

  Flower Shape:

  Star

  Flower Petals:

  6 petals/rays

  Tepals

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Each male has 6 yellow/white/green tepals and 6 stamens. Each female has 5 yellow/grey/green tepals, a single ovary, and a short tripartite style. The ovary is ovoid, shiny, and green.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Prickly

  Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

  Insignificant

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Cordate

  Obovate

  Ovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Description:

  Leaves are up to 5" long and 4" wide, oval to broadly ovate/obovate, smooth margins (or possibly denticulate, but not visible without magnification), rounded to pointed at the tip, rounded to heart-shaped at the base and hairless. A leaf has 3-7 parallel veins; its upper surface is green, the lower surface is a lighter green. Leaves along the stem have a pair of tendrils at the base of the 3/4" stalk.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Cross Section:

  Round

  Stem Description:

  Lower stems have straight spines and stiff bristles, while upper stems seldom have spines. Spines and bristles darken to brown or black with age.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Riparian

  Slope/Bank

  Vertical Spaces

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Native Garden

  Rain Garden

  Design Feature:

  Barrier

  Hedge

  Attracts:

  Bees

  Moths

  Pollinators

  Small Mammals

  Songbirds

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Drought

  Problems:

  Spines/Thorns

  Weedy