We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Smilax nipponica - Miq.

Common Name
Family Smilacaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Meadows and thickets in mountains, C. and S. Japan[58]. Forests, grassy slopes, moist places along streams at elevations of 200 - 1400 metres in China[266].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Smilax nipponica


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial
Smilax nipponica
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Smilax nipponica is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is dioecious (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). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves  Root  Shoots
Edible Uses: Gelatine

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked and used like asparagus[105, 174, 177]. Fruit - raw or cooked and used in jellies etc[61]. Used when fully ripe[61]. The blue-black berries are 6 - 7mm in diameter[266]. Root - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[621]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[61].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Carminative

The roots are antispasmodic and carminative. They stimulate the circulation[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, arthritis, backache etc[147, 218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. It is quite likely that this is the species referred to as S. herbacea nipponica in [61]. The edible uses listed below include those uses listed in [61] as applying to S. herbacea nipponica. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse[1]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[K]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[K]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in early spring as new growth begins[238]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[238].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Smilax aristolochiifoliaMexican SarsaparillaPerennial Climber5.0 10-12 FLMHSNM240
Smilax asperaSarsaparilla, Rough bindweedClimber3.0 8-11  LMHSNM333
Smilax auriculataEarleaf GreenbrierClimber7.0 -  LMHSNM22 
Smilax bona-noxGreenbriar, Saw greenbrier, Dunes saw greenbrierClimber6.0 0-0  LMHSNM32 
Smilax chinaChina RootClimber4.5 5-9  LMHSNM431
Smilax cordifolia Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Smilax discotis Climber7.0 7-10  LMHSNM10 
Smilax febrifugaEcuadorian SarsaparillaClimber12.0 10-12 FLMHSNM340
Smilax glabratufulingClimber3.0 -  LMHSNM23 
Smilax glaucaCat GreenbrierClimber5.0 4-8  LMHSNDM22 
Smilax glyciphyllaSarsparillaClimber0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Smilax herbaceaCarrion Flower, Smooth carrionflowerPerennial Climber2.5 4-8  LMHSNM412
Smilax hispidaHag BriarClimber15.0 4-8  LMHSNM22 
Smilax lanceifolia Climber2.0 -  LMHSNM21 
Smilax laurifoliaLaurel GreenbrierClimber6.0 7-10  LMHSNM320
Smilax officinalisHonduran sarsaparillaPerennial Climber25.0 10-12 FLMHSNM242
Smilax pseudochinaFalse China RootClimber2.0 -  LMHSNMWe32 
Smilax riparia Perennial Climber0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Smilax rotundifoliaHorse Brier, Roundleaf greenbrier, BramblesClimber12.0 4-9 FLMHSNM320
Smilax sieboldii Climber2.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Smilax tamnoidesBristly GreenbrierClimber0.0 -  LMHSNM22 
Smilax trinervula Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Miq.

Botanical References

58266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Smilax nipponica  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.