Cat Greenbrier
Smilax glauca
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Fepup
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Genus:
- Smilax
- Species:
- Smilax glauca
- USDA Symbol:
- SMGL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Smilax leaf miner moth (Proleucoptera smilaciella)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Marmara smilacisella, Spotted Phosphila (Phosphila miselioides)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire. Common in fire-maintained pine woodlands and sandhills.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in dry, open woods and thickets
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have double dormancy requiring warm then cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take over a year.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI