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Common Greenbrier

Smilax rotundifolia

Found in moderately dry forests; moist forests; forests and woodlands; floodplain and bottomland forests; swamps; ponds, lakes and their shores; pine flatwoods; prairies and grasslands; roadsides, fields and disturbed ground. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

Thorny climbing vine

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

Profile 100%

Height
3 inches–20.5 feet
Spread
5–20 feet
Light
Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Thorny climbing vine. Stiff stem prickles and dense growth need placement 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
April to May
Fruiting season
Spring to summer

Recorded in 59 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 9

Forests and woodlands

Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain.
Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Swamps

Loblolly bay in a coastal swamp
Regional / representative. Shown: Southern coastal swamps, Florida to Virginia; state not identified, a neighboring state.Loblolly bay in a coastal swamp, Marian Ellis Rowan, 1901. Public domain. Source record.

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Georgia pond and emergent wetland
Regional / representative. Shown: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia; representative pond ecosystem, a neighboring state.Georgia pond and emergent wetland, Robert 'Bob' Hynes, 1997. Public domain. Source record.

Prairies and grasslands

Grand Prairie, Coosa Valley Prairies, Floyd County
Limestone prairie. Shown: Grand Prairie, Coosa Valley Prairies, Floyd County, Georgia, a neighboring state.Grand Prairie, Coosa Valley Prairies, Floyd County, Alan M. Cressler / U.S. Geological Survey, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

Pine flatwoods

Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 137 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 4a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Yellow, green or white
Growth rate
Slow
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Summer
Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Common Greenbriar; Round Leaf Green Briar

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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Sources