Smilax rotundifolia L.

Common greenbrier

About plant names...

Common greenbrier is a widespread North American native plant. (A brier is a thicket of thorny plants.)

Identification: This woody, thorned vine reaches 10-20' (3-6.1 m) in length, clambering over other plants, attaching itself with tendrils as it goes. It is deciduous, but may retain its leaves until late in the winter in the south. Stems are somewhat diamond-shaped in cross-section, with sharp thorns up to ¼" (8 mm) long. Leaves are glossy and leathery, with several fairly prominent veins running from the base to the tip of the leaf, round or oval in shape. Flowers are yellowish-green, about ¼" (6.3 mm) around. Fruits are clusters of blue berries with whitish coatings, about ¼" (6.3 mm) in diameter. The berries can persist through much of the winter.

Online References:

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Www.carolinanature.com

The Vanderbilt University Bioimages web site

The Island Creek Elementary School's Study of Northern Virginia Ecology

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Vanderbilt University Bioimages web site

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

EFloras

In late winter. · 3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Ari­zona
≈ 3 × 2" (7.4 × 5.9 cm)

6/10/2018
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Mary­land
≈ 8 × 4½" (19 × 12 cm)

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

In late winter. · 3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Ari­zona
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 13 cm)

Smilax rotundifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 19 Aug 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

The orange tentrils are invading dodder. · 9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 6" (19 × 15 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 12 cm)

6/10/2018
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

5/26/2018 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

Range:

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