Description
California greenbrier is an unassuming, yet very interesting woody, evergreen, native vine with circular to heart-shaped green leaves. It often has sharp, bristle-like spines on its green stems, and it has black, round fruit with reddish seeds. The small, drooping clusters of green flowers bloom in spring to early summer, depending on elevation. The flowers are not particularly showy, but they are important to a wide range of small pollinators.
Although California greenbrier is a common and important species along streams and rivers in riparian habitat throughout its range, it is often overlooked. It can be found growing in valley-bottom riparian habitats, along shady streambanks in woodlands, ponderosa pine, or mixed conifer forests, in upland areas, or near seeps, springs or other moist locations. California greenbrier is native to northern California and soutwestern Oregon. It generally grows below 5,000 ft. in elevation, and often in thickets of vegetation.
California greenbrier will vine its way up into nearby shrubs or trees, but without anything to grow up into, it will sprawl along the ground, or form something of a small shrub on its own. It has short, knotty rhizomes and can spread via the rhizomes, but it also spreads by seed.
This species can grow in full sun, part-shade, or full shade. It prefers medium to moist soil. It may need some shade at low elevations to help get established.
California greenbrier is often found with chewed up leaves, indicating that the species is used by some insect larvae as a larval host plant.
California greenbrier (Smilax californica) seed packets contain approximately 35 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Information
90 days of cold-moist stratification is recommended. Sow seeds outside in fall and let nature do the stratification naturally outside, if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
