Of all the vines in natural landscapes across the south, greenbriers are the most memorable, but not typically for good reasons. Also known as catbriers, these tough vines sport some of the nastiest thorns of any plant. And yes, they hurt! I have scars, and many stories about how they have entrapped, tripped, made me bleed, and use words that my Mama did not like me to say. But bear with me as I try to mitigate their reputation.
Yes, most of the nine species in the genus Smilax found in the southeastern U.S. have thorns along their stems: one species with spines on the margins of their leaves and main leaf veins, to add insult to injury. Greenbriers are common across dry and wet habitats. Vines grow out of large, hard, underground tubers that can form dense beds that are difficult to remove.
And this is not the first time I have written about at least some of these plants. My previous story was focused on how great some taste as a wild edible plant when their canes are just emerging in the springs https://ourmshome.com/eating-greenbriers-before-they-eat-you/ Besides being edible, there are a couple of redeemable qualities of these plants, even for humans.
Smilax smallii is commonly called Jackson Vine and was used as a decorative element in southern homes dating before and during the Civil War. The small, dark green, and narrow leaves of this plant are attractive, and the stems have few if any thorns. Allegedly, these vines were used to adorn tables and doorways, when General Stonewall Jackson visited homes during the war – thus the common name, although the story is suspicious. This species was also apparently found as part of the landscaping of southern homes during these periods
Similarly, Smilax pumila or Sarsaparilla Vine is thornless, evergreen, with large, often variegated leaves – dark green with light green patches. This ground-hugging vine is found in dry pinelands and is often used to adorn door wreaths. It is the only species with clusters of bright orange fruit. It would make a nice ground cover in any home situation.
My favorite thing about these plants is that their young canes and leaves are edible and delicious, raw or cooked as you would with any green. Apart from being tasty as young stems, the hard tubers can be processed into starch-rich powders that native Americans used as a thickener in cooking, and when mix with honey, as a special treat. These plants also had numerous medicinal uses for indigenous people.
And least we leave out the value of these plants for wildlife, as nibble for many furry herbivores, and tasty meals as fruit for small mammals and birds. But as with any dioecious species (separate male and female plants), only the female vines bear fruit. All but Sarsaparilla vine and Coral Greenbrier have dark blue to black fruit: Coral Greenbrier fruit are red. Other species include Earleaf Greenbrier (Smilax auriculata), Wild Sarsaparilla (Smilax glauca), Bamboo Vine (Smilax aurifolia), a favorite to eat, Bullbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), and Bristly Greenbrier (Smilax tamnoides).
For me, the most annoying of these vines is Catbrier, Smilax bona-nox, that has thorns and spines on every surface of the plant! This is the one that I am convinced has eyes, ears, or both – because whenever I walk where it lives, it waits for me to come close, at which point it wraps itself around my legs. As I have said, I have scars.
But please give Greenbriers their due – they are mostly harmless, if you view them from afar.
Hope to see you in our great outdoors!
Title Slide – Eared-leaf Greenbrier (Smilax auriculata)