Smilax glauca aka Sawbrier

Smilax glauca is a woody vine that lives for years. It belongs to the Smilacaceae family. People call it sawbrier, whiteleaf greenbrier, and wild sarsaparilla. Its native range runs from New England south to Florida. It also reaches west to Texas and into Mexico. It grows in woods, fields, pastures, and beside roads. It lives in dry woods and in forests beside rivers.

This vine grows fast and climbs with tendrils. It spreads through rhizomes, which are stems that grow underground. It can grow through shrubs and trees, or over stumps. Its thin, round stems are green and have weak prickles. A pale wax coat often covers the stems. The bark is greenish brown. Each leaf has one blade, and leaves alternate along stems. Their shapes range from oblong to narrow and heart-shaped. Clear veins run side by side through the leaves. The leaf edges are smooth. The tops are green and may have pale patches. Pale or whitish leaf undersides help show which species it is. Fall leaves may turn red or burgundy. Plants may keep their leaves in the warmer southern range.

Small greenish-yellow flowers grow from late spring into early summer. They form umbels, with stalks that share a central point. Each plant bears either male or female flowers. Both sexes must grow together to make seeds. The flowers have six tepals, the parts around their center. Male flowers also have six stamens, which make pollen. Clusters of dark blue-black berries appear in fall. A pale wax coat covers the fruit, too. The berries add a feature that changes with the season.

Grow it in sun, part shade, or patches of light. It accepts sand, loam, clay, and shallow soil with rocks. It tolerates acid, neutral, and alkaline soil, too. It does well in moist soil that drains well. It can also cope with dry spells now and then. NC State lists USDA zones 4b through 10b. Plants For A Future reports hardiness to at least −20°C. It suits woods and plantings left to spread on their own. Yet it needs a great deal of care. Its spreading rhizomes and prickles can cause trouble. NC State calls it very weedy and says it burns easily. Avoid planting it near homes where fire safety matters.

The leaves, roots, and young shoots have uses as food. You can eat spring shoots raw or cooked. Cooked roots can make jelly. Dried root powder goes into bread. Past uses include root drinks made through fermentation. People also used leaves or stems as remedies. These past treatments do not prove that they help health. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.