Carrion Flower is fragrant. However, the fragrance has been described as 'rotten meat' or 'dead rats'. It is typically found in moist forests, thickets, and wooded banks. It tolerates a wide range of soil types but prefers moist soil. The Smooth Carrion Flower is distinguished from other species of Smilax because it is not thorny and it lacks hairs on the underside of the leaf. It also has a very long stem that holds the berry bunch on the vine. The plants of Smilax are dioecious - the male and female flowers are on separate plants and are therefore not self-fertile. 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.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | 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); 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
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Erect
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Lanceolate; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Upper surfaces of the leaves are medium green and smooth, and lower surfaces are pale green. They are ovate-oval to broadly ovate-lanceolate with smooth margins and parallel-veined.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Individual umbels are about 1½–3" across, consisting of 20-120 flowers on slender pedicels; the umbels resemble a globe when fully developed. It is dioecious; the green to yellowish-green staminate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and 6 stamens with white anthers. The green to yellowish-green pistillate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and a pistil with 3 flattened stigmata. The unpleasant (putrid) smelling flowers attract insects and are pollinated by carrion flies. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from May to June.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Individual dark blue berries are about ¼" across and contain about 3-5 seeds. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from August to October.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Light green to purple stems are cylindrical, slightly speckled, smooth, and often glaucous.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and the US, south to Georgia and Alabama
Wildlife value
Berries are eaten by Ruffled Grouse, Wild Turkey, and various songbirds. Leaves are grazed by deer and rabbits. Flowers are pollinated by insects, notably carrion flies which lay eggs in the blossoms.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Leaves and young shoots are cooked and used like asparagus. The root can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The fruit has been used to treat hoarseness. Dried and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils. The essence of the root has been used for back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders, and kidney problems
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Riparian; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Woodland