How Smilax China Vines Are Strangling Native Forest Trees

They are climbing flowering plants, many of which are woody and/or thorny, in the monocotyledon family Smilacaceae, native throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.. Smilax species (greenbriers) are difficult to control weedy vines that will entangle through ornamental landscape shrubs. These vines are native to North America. In South Carolina,. Round-Leaved Greenbrier is a deciduous to semi-evergreen woody vine in the greenbrier family. The common greenbrier is most often found in forests with sandy, moist to dry soils, in. Feb 16, 2021 · Smilax is an extremely vigorous plant with pinkish bamboo-like vines bearing small thorns. Leaves vary by species and may be lance, heart shaped or oblong, shiny, and. Aug 7, 2025 · Smilax is a genus of flowering plants found across the globe. These plants are often recognized by their climbing habit and are common in various natural environments.

These are members of the Smilax genus, a group of plants native to the subtropical parts of the world and infamous among gardeners, landscapers, and plant enthusiasts for their prickly.