Common Name:

General Information

Smilax riparia is an annual climbing plant, sometimes perennating in the south of its range. The stem is branched, herbaceous or sometimes becoming somewhat woody near the base, and growing 1 - 2 metres tall. The plant grows into the surrounding vegetation, supporting itself by means of tendrils[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines.

Habitat

Forests, thickets, grassy slopes, hillsides along valleys; at elevations from near sea level to 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual Climber
Height	1.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Smilax riparia can be found from the cold temperate zone in northern China to the subtropics of southern China.
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young shoots and leaves - cooked[, ].

Fruit[]. No more details are given. The blue/black berries can be 9mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse[]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in early spring as new growth begins[]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[].