species 843 observations

Glabrous Greenbrier

Smilax glabra

Field notes

Smilax glabra, sarsaparilla, is a plant species in the genus Smilax. It is native to China, the Himalayas, and Indochina.

S. glabra is a traditional medicine in Chinese herbology, whence it is also known as tufuling (土茯苓) or chinaroot, china-root, and china root (a name it shares with the related S. china). Chinaroot is a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert guilinggao, which uses its ability to set certain kinds of jelly.

Supports All

1 native animals
supported in the US

Caterpillars Moths and butterflies raised on it Marmara smilacisella 1

Range

United States

Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided

Key traits

Layer: Vines
Light: Part shade Dappled shade
Moisture: Well drained Moist
Soil: Sand Loam Clay
Soil pH: Acid Neutral Alkaline
Habit: Ascending Climbing
Plant type: Edible Shrub Vine

From NC State Extension.