Berchemia scandens aka Supplejack

Berchemia scandens is a woody vine in the buckthorn family. Its common names include supplejack, American rattan, and rattan vine. It grows wild in the central and southeastern United States. Kew also records it from Chiapas, Mexico, to Guatemala. Its habitats include swamp woods, lowland forests, and dry upland glades. In North Carolina, it grows mainly on the coastal plain.

This vine climbs by winding its stems around other plants. It can also spread across the ground without climbing. Listed garden sizes reach 20–60 feet [6.1–18.3 metres] tall. The usual listed width is 6–12 feet [1.8–3.7 metres]. Some plants spread to 20 feet [6.1 metres]. Young stems are smooth and red, then turn green-gray. Older bark stays smooth, with patches of gray and green. Large vines can develop thick main stems. The leaves fall each year and grow alternately along stems. Each simple, oval leaf has clear pinnate veins. Leaf edges are smooth or have slight waves. Fall shades include yellow, orange, red, and brownish-orange.

Small flowers form loose panicles at the ends of stems. Their petals have a pale green and white tint. Sources place flowering between April and June, with some summer bloom. Fleshy blue to blue-black drupes follow the flowers. They ripen in fall and show from August through October. The fruits are slightly flat and longer than wide. Songbirds, wild turkeys, and bobwhite eat the calcium-rich fruit. Raccoons and gray squirrels feed on it too. The vine also gives birds places to nest.

Grow supplejack in full sun or part shade. It accepts clay, loam, and sand, with acid or neutral soil. It tolerates moisture levels from dry ground to wet sites. Good drainage suits it, though it also handles brief flooding. Established plants withstand drought, heat, and compacted soil. Sources list USDA hardiness zones 6–9 and low upkeep needs. Growers can raise new plants from seeds or softwood cuttings.

Woodland, native plant, and naturalized gardens suit its climbing form. Missouri Botanical Garden also lists it for rain gardens. Its tough stems have served for wicker goods and walking sticks. Indigenous peoples have used it in medicine. Sources report no major pest or disease problems. The plant has a high fire risk. NC State flags the fruit for low-level poison concerns. The toxic substance and symptoms remain unknown. These records do not establish that people can safely eat it.