Rough Bindweed
Smilax aspera
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Bangladesh, Canary Is., China, Corse, Cyprus, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Malawi, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Zambia
Christian Ferrer,Hans Hillewaert,Roger Culos,Christian Ferrer,Christian Ferrer,Christian Ferrer,Zeynel Cebeci,Christian Ferrer,Christian Ferrer,Christian Ferrer,Christian Ferrer,Hans Hillewaert
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Genus:
- Smilax
- Species:
- Smilax aspera
- USDA Symbol:
- SMAS
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream, greenish-yellow
Host Plant for Caterpillars
European fruit tree tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from underground rhizomes after fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers calcareous soils in native range
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Germination can be erratic and slow; scarification and warm followed by cold stratification improves rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI