I've recently discovered (Thanks to the Plant ID forum!) that a strange plant growing in my yard is a variety of Smilax Herbacea... After looking it up I was thinking about leaving it where it was, but a fellow ATP member suggested that it can be difficult to eradicate.....Should I leave it or pull it now before it becomes a problem? Suggestions?

Thanks!

Jennifer

Hi Jen,

Most native plants play nice with their neighbors and this one is native to your area. I can't find any information saying that Smilax Herbacea is a menace. If you like it, let it grow. You may have to give it a trellis so it doesn't climb neighboring plants though.

You have to have two plants (one male and one female) for it to set seed so no pesky seedlings to worry about either.

Daisy

Daisy,

I think that's what I'll do. I once planted chinese lantern (I thought it was an annual at the time), which as you probably know, takes OVER. It took me a long time (like years) to eradicate it, but I finally won. I think I'll risk it with the Smilax :-)

Thanks for the input!

Pretty!
I googled it...

Around here... Those non-thorny varieties are deliberately grown as Christmas decorations....
People pull them down and bring them indoors for the holidays!

Also consider their value as an edible..
Greene dean has videos on preparing smilax like asparagus....
Personally.... I prefer them raw.