About
Smilax aspera, prickly ivy, is an evergreen climber to 3 m forming a dense tangle of thorny, angular stems bearing leathery, ovate, heart-shaped, glossy green leaves often blotched grey, small, scented, pale-green flowers in racemes in late summer and autumn, and red fruits. A rewarding and ornamental evergreen climber for a sheltered, sunny wall.
About the genus
Smilax, the greenbriers or bamboo vines, are a large genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and climbers forming dense, spiny thickets with heart-shaped foliage and small, greenish-white flowers followed by bright, round berries. Grown in sheltered, sunny positions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing, Trailing
FoliageEvergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Sub-tropical, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope, Asia, Africa
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationRequires a warm sunny position in well-drained soil, grown against a support. Not suitable for cold, frost prone areas
PruningPruning group 11 after flowering, care necessary to avoid prickly stems
PropagationPropagate by seed in autumn or by division in autumn or spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free