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Berchemia scandens

supplejack

Rhamnaceae

Southeastern and south-central United States

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Berchemia scandens is a deciduous woody vine in the buckthorn family that climbs by twining its stems around supports. Stems reach 20-40 feet (6-12 m) long and can grow more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick at the base, with smooth gray bark that helps separate it from rougher-barked climbers. The leaves are alternate, oval, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, glossy dark green, with closely spaced parallel side veins that curve toward the leaf tip. Small greenish-white flowers appear in clusters in spring, followed by oblong fruits 0.25-0.3 inch (6-8 mm) long that ripen from green through red to blue-black in late summer and fall. The vine climbs high into shrubs and trees and can drape over fences and understory plants. It grows in moist bottomland woods, swamp margins, stream banks, and fence rows. The twining stems are tough and flexible and were once used for basketry and binding, the source of the name rattan vine. In garden settings it can climb into and weigh down small trees, so it needs a sturdy support and periodic cutting back.

Native Range

Berchemia scandens is native to the southeastern and south-central United States, from Virginia and Florida west to Texas and north into the lower Midwest, extending into northeastern Mexico. It grows in bottomland forests, swamp edges, and along streams.

Suggested Uses

Berchemia scandens is used on arbors, fences, and large trellises and in naturalized woodland and streamside plantings. Its fruit is eaten by birds and other wildlife. Its vigor suits large or wild areas rather than small, tidy gardens.

How to Identify

Look for a twining woody vine with smooth gray bark and glossy oval leaves 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long marked by closely spaced, parallel side veins that curve toward the tip. In late summer the vine carries oblong fruits that shift from red to blue-black. The smooth bark and strongly parallel leaf veins separate it from greenbriers and grapes that share its habitat.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height20' - 40'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Small greenish-white flowers open in spring (April-May) in branched clusters at the leaf axils and stem tips. They are insect-pollinated and last one to two weeks. Fruits follow through summer and ripen to blue-black by early fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

glossy dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Berchemia scandens grows in full sun to part shade in moist, fertile soils and tolerates seasonal flooding and heavy bottomland clay. It is hardy in USDA zones 6-9 and withstands both wet ground and short dry spells once established. Give it a strong trellis, arbor, or tree it can twine into, as the mature stems become heavy. It needs little feeding in fertile soil and tolerates pruning to control its spread. Without support it sprawls and roots where stems touch moist soil. Cut stems back in late winter to keep it within bounds, since it can overtop small trees and shrubs.

Pruning

Prune in late winter while the vine is dormant to control size and remove tangled or dead stems. Cutting back hard is tolerated and the vine resprouts readily, which helps keep it off small trees and structures.