Plant Profile: Smilax walteri

Coral Greenbrier is a deciduous climbing vine belonging to the greenbrier family. It rapidly develops from a long rhizome and utilizes tendrils for support. This plant typically thrives along the edges of ponds and banks of streams, as well as in other areas that are submerged for part of the year. In its natural habitat, it is commonly found in swamp forests and bogs, where it remains partially underwater for significant periods. Notably, this species is resilient to heat and produces striking red berries that endure into the winter months, making it the only variety of Smilax in North Carolina that bears red fruit.

This species is not capable of self-fertilization, as its flowers are either male or female, with each individual plant containing only one sex. Therefore, to produce seeds, both male and female plants must be cultivated together. Its primary method of spreading is through rhizomes.