Smilax laurifolia
Evergreen climbing vine native to the southeastern United States, forms dense wetland thickets from large tuberous rhizomes, regrows rapidly after fire, and bears black berries dispersed by wildlife.
Common Names
Bamboo Vine, Blaspheme Vine, Laurel Greenbrier, Laurel Greenbriar, Laurel-Leaved Greenbrier, Laurelleaf Greenbrier
Summary
Laurel-leaf greenbrier is an evergreen, spiny climbing vine native to the southeastern United States. It grows as a vine up to 15–20 feet tall, forming dense thickets from large tuberous rhizomes; stems are armed with prickles, and leaves are thick, leathery, laurel-shaped, and evergreen. Flowers are greenish-yellow in umbels in midsummer, followed by shiny black berries that mature in the second growing season. The plant climbs by tendrils and commonly inhabits wetlands such as swamps, bogs, marshy banks, and pocosins, where dense growth can overtop surrounding vegetation. Cultivation and practical aspects include a preference for sun to partial shade and moist soils, with drought tolerance and adaptability to various soils; hardy to USDA zones 7–10. It is dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for fruit, and propagates by seeds or division. In landscapes it is used for screening or privacy, with evergreen foliage providing year-round cover, and it forms extensive rhizome colonies that can be difficult to eradicate. Prickles along stems require caution during handling, and fruit is consumed by wildlife such as birds and bears, supporting habitat value. Edible parts include roots and young shoots; fire or disturbance triggers rapid resprouting from rhizomes, making it a vigorous, early-seral component in appropriate habitats.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
197-360 inches
Spread
20-30 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun to partial shade.
Soil Type
Moist soil
Soil Drainage
Wet, poorly drained soils, often waterlogged and frequently flooded.
Soil pH
6.0-8.0 (neutral) is ideal, tolerates 4.0-7.0.
Bloom Color
Yellow, white, cream, green, yellow-green
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage color; evergreen with leaves staying green year-round.
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
About 2.5–2.75 inches per day during the growing season.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds and pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 1030 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Liliales
- Family
- Smilacaceae
- Genus
- Smilax
Synonyms
Parillax laurifolia Smilax alba Smilax lanceolata Smilax virginiana Smilax laurifolia var. bupleurifolia Smilax hastata var. lanceolata