Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Smilacaceae

Genus:

Smilax

Species:

Smilax auriculata

USDA Symbol:

SMAU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Vine

Height:

600 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

green, yellow

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire; common in fire-maintained pine flatwoods and sandhills.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to sandy, well-drained habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

30–365 days

Notes:

Seeds have double dormancy and may take over a year to germinate. Scarification followed by warm then cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI