Common Name: Sarsaparilla

General Information

Smilax aspera is an evergreen climbing plant producing stems about 3 metres long that attach themselves to other plants for support by means of tendrils.
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and dyestuff. The plant is often grown to form an impenetrable barrier.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

S. Europe through Asia into China, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar

Habitat

Bushy places, river banks and ravines[, ], usually close to the sea[]. Forests at elevations of 1,000 - 2,000 metres in S. Xizang and SW Yunnan, China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	3.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Smilax aspera is a plant of the warm temperate zone moving into the tropics in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10°c when fully dormant[].
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[].
The flowers have a heavy sweet perfume[].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Young shoots - raw or cooked as a vegetable[, , , , ]. They can be cooked and used as an asparagus substitute. The tendrils are also eaten[].

The plant is an ingredient of soft drinks[, ]. (this probably refers to the root)

Medicinal

The root is alterative, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant and tonic[, ]. This is one of the best depurative medicines and is used as a springtime tonic and general body cleanser, usually with woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)[].
The root has all the medicinal virtues of the widely used tropical herb sarsaparilla, though to a lesser degree[]. It is often used as an adulterant to that plant[].

The ripe fruits are squeezed and applied to the skin in the treatment of scabies[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is often grown as an impenetrable hedge in the tropics[].

Other Uses

A red dye is obtained from the ripe tendrils[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in individual containers in a lightly shaded position. This species has a range from the temperate zone to the tropics - seed of species 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[]. The seed can be very slow to germinate.
Division 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 until ready to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots[].

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