Lanceleaf Greenbrier

Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.

Seeps and springs

Places where groundwater keeps the soil or rock wet, such as seepage slopes and spring runs.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

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 Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 22 animals.

Widespread birds also seen here (61)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

20CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Smilax

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
Marmara smilacisellaX
Norape cretataWhite Flannel Moth

Show all 20

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

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

9BirdsRecorded eating Smilax in Arkansas

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Arkansas, most records first.

Ruffed GrouseFruit and leaves. 7 diet records
Wild TurkeySeeds. 7 diet records
American RobinFruit. 5 diet records
Eastern BluebirdFruit. 3 diet records
Hermit ThrushFruit and seeds. 3 diet records
Swainson's ThrushFruit and seeds. 2 diet records
Blue-headed Vireo1 diet record
Northern CardinalFruit. 1 diet record
VeeryFruit and seeds. 1 diet record

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. 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

Birds that eat Smilax 9

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Fruit and leaves. 7 diet records
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Seeds. 7 diet records
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Fruit. 5 diet records
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Fruit. 3 diet records
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Fruit and seeds. 3 diet records
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireo solitarius
1 diet record
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Fruit. 1 diet record
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Smilacaceae
Hardiness: Zones 7a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Flower color: Yellow or green
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Forms thickets
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “June to July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow or green” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · 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 7a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “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; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Arkansas rank	SNR
Global rank	G5?
AR status	Not verified
Federal status	Not 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.

Lanceleaf Greenbrier

At a glance

Natural habitats