# Greenbriers (*smilax*)

Greenbriers are climbing plants with thorny vines that love to grow in forests and fields! They have shiny green leaves and can produce small flowers that turn into berries.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests, fields, and along edges of roads.
- **Also known as:** Catbriar, Greenbriar, Smilax

![Greenbriers](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Smilax_aspera.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smilax_aspera.jpg)

## Appearance

The Greenbriers is a woody vine with distinctive sharp thorns along its tough stems, and often heart-shaped or oval, glossy green leaves. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers develop into clusters of dark blue to black berries.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Liliales
- **Family:** Smilacaceae
- **Genus:** Smilax

## Interesting facts

- Even its climbing tendrils can be eaten when cooked, tasting surprisingly like asparagus!
- Its tough, thorny vines can form dense, impenetrable thickets, creating mini-fortresses!
- Native Americans brewed medicinal teas from Greenbrier roots to help with various ailments.
- Some Greenbrier roots can be ground into a flour-like substance for cooking!

## Special abilities

- **Thorny Armor:** Greenbriers have sharp, hooked thorns that help them protect their leaves and shoots from hungry animals.
- **Climbing Tendrils:** Greenbriers can use specialized tendrils to cling to other plants, helping them climb high to reach essential sunlight.
- **Berry Buffet:** Greenbriers produce juicy berries that attract many birds, helping the plant spread its seeds far and wide.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-1000 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_to_early_summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Feeds on its leaves and tender shoots.
- **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feasts on its dark blue berries.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar.
- **Shelter:** [Carolina Wren](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-wren) (*Thryothorus ludovicianus*) — Nests safely within its thorny thickets.

## Traits

- [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful of the thorns when exploring!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Greenbriers?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Greenbriers?

100-1000 cm

### How big are the flowers on Greenbriers?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Greenbriers bloom?

Late_spring_to_early_summer

### Is Greenbriers edible?

Yes

### Is Greenbriers toxic?

Mild

### What is Greenbriers's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Greenbriers pollinated?

Insect

## Where to spot

- [Raglan Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/raglan-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Greenbriers: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greenbriers)