Bristly greenbrier (Smilax hispida)
What bristly greenbrier looks like
Ever been pulling weeds and accidentally grabbed a stem with lots of small thorns? You’ve probably come across bristly greenbrier, a native deciduous vine. Lower stems are covered with thorns while upper parts have small bristles. The oval to heart-shaped glossy green leaves are 4 to 5 inches wide with three to seven parallel veins.
Dark green tendrils at the leaf base help stems climb. Bristly greenbrier can grow up to 40 feet tall or ramble over the ground, forming a dense thicket. Small pale yellow flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by small blue to black berries, which are a popular food for all kinds of wildlife.
Where to find it
In the wild, bristly greenbrier prefers open woods and thickets. In the garden it rambles into shrub borders or perennial beds. It prefers part shade and moist soil, but can tolerate bright sun and dry soil too.
How to get rid of bristly greenbrier
Since bristly greenbrier spreads by seeds and underground rhizomes, this aggressive plant can form a very dense, thorny thicket. The roots are quite shallow, so wear thick leather gloves and pull young plants. Dig mature plants out. If you can’t dig, keep cutting down stems to prevent seeds from ripening to weaken the plant.
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