Smilax auriculata
earleaf greenbrier
Overview
Smilax auriculata is a woody, climbing vine in the greenbrier family with slender, often zigzag green stems that scramble and climb by paired tendrils to 10-20 feet (3-6 m). The leathery leaves vary from oblong to fiddle-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, and are often constricted in the middle with two ear-like basal lobes that give the plant its name. Scattered prickles arm the lower stems. From spring to early summer it bears small, greenish-yellow flowers in rounded clusters; male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Female vines produce dull black berries about 0.25 inch (6 mm) wide that ripen in fall and persist into winter, feeding birds. S. auriculata grows in sandy soils of coastal scrub, dunes, pine flatwoods, and thickets across the southeastern United States, tolerating drought, salt, and poor soils. It spreads by rhizomes and can form dense, tangled thickets that are hard to remove once established. The prickly stems catch on skin and clothing. Foliage stays green through mild winters and drops in colder areas.
Native Range
Native to the southeastern United States, along the coastal plain from North Carolina south through Florida and west to Louisiana, growing in sandy scrub, dunes, and pine flatwoods.Suggested Uses
Used for wildlife plantings, dune stabilization, and natural screening on fences and arbors in coastal gardens. The berries feed birds and the thicket gives cover. Its prickles and spreading rhizomes make it less suited to small or tidy beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 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