Smilax glauca is easily recognized by its glaucous to whitened abaxial leaf surfaces. It is reportedly the weediest species of the genus. The plants tend to be evergreen in the more southern part of the distribution. It is commonly found in dry to mesic forests and woodlands, bottomland and riparian forests, bluffs, prairies, old fields, fencerows, pastures, and roadsides. 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. Fire Risk: This plant has a high 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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Variegated; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are prominently parallel-veined, oblong to narrowly cordate, 2- 4 " long, green or variegated with pale patches above and whitened abaxial leaf surfaces.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, greenish-yellow with 6 tepals or 6 stamens, blooming in clusters late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dark bluish-black berries with glaucus bloom, 1/3" in diameter, appearing in clusters
Bark color
Green; Light Brown
Bark detail
Greenish brown
Stem detail
Slender, round, green and often covered with a white waxy bloom, with weak prickles. Thorny stems climb by tendrils.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
N. America - New England to Florida, west to Texas, Mexico
Wildlife value
Smilax provides cover and protection for many types of birds. Deer, black bears, and rabbits eat the leaves and vines, beavers will eat the roots.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Roots; Shoots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
The leaves and roots are edible. Roots can be boiled and made into a jelly or dried and ground into a powder and used when making bread. Young shoots in spring can be eaten either raw or cooked and are similar to asparagus in taste. Early American settlers would mix root pulp with molasses and parched corn and allow it to ferment in order to make a type of 'root beer'
Uses (ethnobotany)
Stem prickles have been rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve localized pains and muscle cramps. The leaves and stems have been made into tea for the treatment of rheumatism and stomach problems. The wilted leaves have also been applied as a poultice to boils.