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My Mystery Vine

16 years ago

I got the mystery solved - it's Smilax herbacea (Carrion Vine). I hadn't noticed it smelled like dead rats (LOL!) but there were flies on the flowers so I guess they noticed. Apparently my plant is a little boy plant so therefore no berries. But despite the stinky flowers all parts of the plant are edible and apparently tasty.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smilax herbacea

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Comments (2)

Crazy_Gardener
16 years ago
Mystery solved! Finally I can have a good sleep now. LOL That's good to know because I would of never guessed it in a million years. I notice Gardens North sells the seed if yours don't produce blue berries then Gil.

SMILAX herbacea
Smooth Carrion Flower 90-270cm Zone: 3
Here is a unique and attractive climber for the shade garden, almost unknown in commerce. Native to moist woods, thickets and meadows from Manitoba to the Maritimes and into the USA. This uncommon native vine climbs over other vegetation in the wild by means of tendrils. Foliage is clean and lovely; leaves ovate to heart-shaped, looking good all season and turning yellow in autumn. Clusters of intricate tiny green-white flowers form in a ball at the end of a flattened flower stalk in spring. These are followed by showy, large clusters of dark blue berries hanging on long pedicels, creating a very elegant effect. While it would be happiest (and grow tallest) in the woodland garden, it will adapt quite nicely to nearly full sun in average garden soil. Seed wild collected in Ontario.
Germination Instructions: Cold treatment required.

Sharon
northspruce
Original Author
16 years ago
I know Sharon, I was feeling bad for depriving you of sleep. LOL!

I still don't know if I could eat the berries (however delicious) of something that used to smell like a dead rat. I might be interested in planting some more though, thanks for the heads up about Gardens North. What don't they sell??
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