# saw greenbrier (*Smilax bona-nox*) Saw greenbrier is a climbing plant with sharp thorns that can grow very tall. It has shiny green leaves and small flowers that turn into berries, making it a fun plant to discover in the wild! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Forests ![saw greenbrier](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Smilax_bona-nox.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South National Technical Center, Fort Wo, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smilax_bona-nox.jpg) ## Appearance The saw greenbrier is a woody vine with distinctive saw-like prickles along its green stems. Its shiny, heart-shaped to oval leaves are often mottled with lighter green. In fall and winter, it produces small clusters of dark blue to black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Smilacaceae - **Genus:** Smilax ## Interesting facts - Even though it's a spiky nuisance, its berries are a vital winter snack for many animals! - Its strong, thorny vines were once woven to make sturdy baskets and even furniture! - Some people call it 'catbrier' because its sharp, curved thorns easily snag like a cat's claw. - The young shoots and leaves taste surprisingly like asparagus when cooked! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Claws:** Saw greenbrier has sharp, curved prickles that help it climb and cling to other plants for support, allowing it to reach sunlight. - **Underground Powerhouse:** Saw greenbrier has starchy tubers underground that store energy, helping it survive fires or harsh winters and regrow quickly. - **Winter Feast:** Saw greenbrier holds onto its dark berries through winter, providing a crucial food source for birds when other foods are scarce. - **Flexible Tendrils:** Saw greenbrier produces flexible tendrils from its leaf stalks, which expertly coil around supports to help the vine ascend. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — consumes berries and leaves - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on leaves and stems - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — feeds on its dark berries - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits small flowers for nectar ## 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. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful of the sharp thorns when exploring around saw greenbrier. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify saw greenbrier? 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 saw greenbrier? 100-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on saw greenbrier? 0.2-0.3 cm ### When does saw greenbrier bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is saw greenbrier edible? Yes ### Is saw greenbrier toxic? Mild ### What is saw greenbrier's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is saw greenbrier pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Heathcote Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/heathcote-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyndon-b-johnson-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park - [Robert Beaty Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/robert-beaty-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park - [Thurber](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thurber) — Texas, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see saw greenbrier](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/saw-greenbrier) ## 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: [Saw Greenbrier: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saw-greenbrier)