Red-berried Swamp Smilax Smilax walteri
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Smilax china
- Smilax megacarpa
- Phonetic Spelling
- SMIL-aks WAL-ter-ee
- Description
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Coral greenbrier is a deciduous woody vine in the Smilacaceae (greenbrier) family. It grows quickly from an elongated rhizome using tendrils. It is found along pond margins and stream banks, and other places that are submersed for at least part of the year. In nature, it is specifically found in swamp forests and bogs.
The species is not self-fertile as individual yellow brown flowers that appear in spring are either male or female. Nectar from the flowers is attractive to pollinators. Because only one sex on any one plant, both male and female plants must be grown if fruits are desired. Showy bright red berries appear in the fall and persist into winter and provide a food source for birds and small mammals. This is the only native North Carolina Smilax with red fruit. Coral greenbrier climbs by tendrils and spreads primarily by rhizomes. It is heat tolerant and is less prickly than other members of the Smilax genus.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- 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:
- walteri
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South-central, southeastern, and east-central United States
- Distribution:
- East Texas, east to Florida and north to Maryland and New Jersey
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators enjoy the nectar from the flowers. Birds and small mammals enjoy the berries as a food source.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Tendrils
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Bright red, globular, shiny, berries remain on plant into the winter. They begin to display in the month of September and die down past November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Yellow-brown flowers from April-June
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves may be deciduous or semievergreen, ovate-oblong, to ovate-lanceolate, with 3 prominent veins, thin, 2-4" ×1-3", or twice as long as they are wide. The base is rounded, subcordate, or, sometimes wedge-shaped at petiole insertion. The upper leaf surfaces are dark green with paler green lower surfaces. Petioles and veins can be red.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are angled, slender, woody, branching, glabrous with scattered prickles mostly near the base.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
