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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Smilax herbacea is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 2.5 m (8ft 2in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from May to June. 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

Nemexia herbacea (L.) Small

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Root Shoots
Edible Uses: Gelatine

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked and used like asparagus[85, 102, 159]. A delicate and palatable vegetable[183]. Fruit - raw or cooked and used in jellies etc[85, 183]. It should only be used when fully ripe[183]. A pleasant flavour[207, 257]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[200]. Root - cooked[257]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[62, 102]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[62, 102].

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.
Analgesic Antiaphonic Kidney Pectoral Poultice Salve

Eating the fruit is said to be effective in treating hoarseness[207, 257]. The parched and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns[257]. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils[257]. The root is analgesic[257]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders and kidney problems[257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest Scented Plants

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[200]. Hardy to about -20°c[200]. A polymorphic species, varying in both leaf shape and growth habit[43, 270]. The flowers are malodorous[200], they smell like dead rats[207]. A vigorous plant, it can be grown through trees or shrubs or over tree stumps[200]. The sub-species S. herbacea nipponicum is used in Japan[61]. This report probably refers to the species S. nipponica[K]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. Growth habit is a single or multiple shooting vine from a crown [1-2]. Herbaceous.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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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

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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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Smilax aristolochiifolia	Mexican Sarsaparilla	Perennial Climber	5.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	M	2	4	0
Smilax aspera	Sarsaparilla, Rough bindweed	Climber	3.0	8-11		LMH	SN	M	3	3	3
Smilax auriculata	Earleaf Greenbrier	Climber	7.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	2
Smilax bona-nox	Greenbriar, Saw greenbrier, Dunes saw greenbrier	Climber	6.0	0-0		LMH	SN	M	3	2
Smilax china	China Root	Climber	4.5	5-9		LMH	SN	M	4	3	1
Smilax cordifolia		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Smilax discotis		Climber	7.0	7-10		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Smilax febrifuga	Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla	Climber	12.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	M	3	4	0
Smilax glabra	tufuling	Climber	3.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	3
Smilax glauca	Cat Greenbrier	Climber	5.0	4-8		LMH	SN	DM	2	2
Smilax glyciphylla	Sarsparilla	Climber	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	1
Smilax hispida	Hag Briar	Climber	15.0	4-8		LMH	SN	M	2	2
Smilax lanceifolia		Climber	2.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	1
Smilax laurifolia	Laurel Greenbrier	Climber	6.0	7-10		LMH	SN	M	3	2	0
Smilax nipponica		Perennial Climber	2.0	-		LMH	SN	M	3	2
Smilax officinalis	Honduran sarsaparilla	Perennial Climber	25.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	M	2	4	2
Smilax pseudochina	False China Root	Climber	2.0	-		LMH	SN	MWe	3	2
Smilax riparia		Perennial Climber	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	0
Smilax rotundifolia	Horse Brier, Roundleaf greenbrier, Brambles	Climber	12.0	4-9	F	LMH	SN	M	3	2	0
Smilax sieboldii		Climber	2.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Smilax tamnoides	Bristly Greenbrier	Climber	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	2
Smilax trinervula		Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0

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.

Smilax herbacea - L.