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Saw Greenbrier

Smilax bona-nox

Thorny, weedy vine

Native to Alabama. Not suggested for planting. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
About 4 feet
Light
Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Thorny, weedy vine. Prickly stems and persistent rhizomes need management; keep away from paths and play areas. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous or semi-evergreen
Bloom
Spring
Fruiting season
Spring to fall

Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 58 Alabama counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 139 animals.

All wildlife of Alabama

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

22CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Smilax

  • Acrolepiopsis incertellaCarrionflower Moth
  • Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
  • Callopistria floridensisFlorida Fern Caterpillar
  • Choristoneura parallelaParallel-Banded Leafroller, Spotted Fireworm Moth
  • Cymatophora approximariaLarge Scalloped-Wing, Giant Grey
  • Ephestiodes infimellaReddish Ephestiodes
  • Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
  • Feniseca tarquiniusHarvester
  • Hedone vibexWhirlabout
  • Lithophane viridipallensPale Green Pinion
Show all 22
  • Norape cretataWhite Flannel Moth
  • Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
  • Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
  • Phosphila miselioidesSpotted Phosphila
  • Phosphila turbulentaTurbulent Phosphila
  • Phyprosopus callitrichoidesCurved-Line Owlet
  • Proleucoptera smilaciellaGreenbrier Leafminer
  • Pseudogalleria inimicellaInimical Borer
  • Pseudothyris sepulchralisMournful Thyris
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
  • Acrolepiopsis heppneri
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
10BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Smilax

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
11BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Smilax

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
  • Catharus fuscescensVeery
  • Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
  • Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush
  • Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
  • Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Show all 11
  • Vireo solitariusBlue-headed Vireo
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Smilacaceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–11b
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Green, inconspicuous or white
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Forms thickets
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Fall

What its natural habitat tells you

Growing sources and scope
  • Bloom · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Flower color · “Green, inconspicuous or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
  • Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Growth habit · “Forms thickets” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Hardiness · “Zones 5a–11b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Height · “About 4 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Leaves · “Deciduous or semi-evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as

Greenbrier

Conservation status

Alabama rankSNR
Global rankG5
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

Growing cautions

  • Suckers and forms colonies. USDA PLANTS lists its growth form as thicket forming. USDA PLANTS

For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.

Sources