Downy Carrionflower
Smilax pulverulenta
- Native to:
- United States
Image shared by iNaturalist user: mjpapay
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Genus:
- Smilax
- Species:
- Smilax pulverulenta
- USDA Symbol:
- SMPU2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
Host Plant for Caterpillars
inimical borer moth (Pseudogalleria inimicella), leaf tier moth (Acrolepiopsis incertella), meadow rue borer (Papaipema unimoda)
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; adapted to fire-maintained pine-oak woodlands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in forested areas with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may take up to a year to germinate; double dormancy common in Smilax. Warm stratification followed by cold stratification improves germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI