Cat Greenbrier Smilax glauca 20 Seeds

Smilax glauca, commonly known as cat greenbrier, sawbrier, or whiteleaf greenbrier, is a perennial woody vine belonging to the Smilacaceae family. Native to eastern North America, it thrives in a variety of habitats including forests, thickets, and along woodland edges, often climbing over shrubs and trees or sprawling along the ground. The plant is easily recognized by its tough, wiry stems covered in sharp prickles and its distinctive foliage—leaves that are dark green and glossy above but coated with a whitish, waxy bloom beneath, giving them a bluish or silvery hue. Smilax glauca produces small greenish-yellow flowers in spring, which are typically dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants. These blossoms are followed by clusters of bluish-black berries that ripen in late summer to fall, providing a valuable food source for wildlife such as birds and small mammals. The plant’s rhizomatous root system allows it to spread vigorously, often forming dense thickets that can be difficult to penetrate. Ecologically, Smilax glauca plays an important role by providing shelter and food for wildlife, while its extensive root network helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Despite its thorny and sometimes invasive nature, it has traditional uses as well—its young shoots are edible when cooked, and various Indigenous peoples historically utilized parts of the plant for medicinal purposes. Adaptable, hardy, and tenacious, Smilax glauca remains a resilient symbol of the rugged southeastern landscapes where it most commonly grows.