Botanical atlas

Coral Greenbrier

Smilax walteri

Coral greenbrier is one of the quieter members of a genus better known for its famous cousins, the tropical Smilax species that gave the world true sarsaparilla, and Native peoples of the southeastern coastal plain did dig the thick, starchy roots of several regional greenbriers to pound into flour or brew into a reddish, nourishing drink. Smilax walteri itself, though, was noted more for what grew above ground than below it. Its ropes of glossy leaves and prickly canes formed the kind of tangled, thorny thickets that country folk called catbrier or briar patch, valued as living fences and shelter for rabbits, deer, and ground-nesting birds. Come autumn, its clusters of glowing coral-red berries against bare winter stems made it a favorite for cutting and bringing indoors, a small bit of color pulled from the swamp when little else was blooming.

Safety.

Coral greenbrier's edibility is not established, so its berries and roots should not be eaten. Its canes carry stiff prickles, and in the wild it can grow near toxic nightshade lookalikes, so take care with identification.