Smilax jamesii

English peak greenbrier, English Peak Greenbrier

Family: Smilacaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

English peak greenbrier is a California native perennial vine found in the Klamath Ranges and Cascade Range in montane conifer forest near lakesides and streambanks at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small spreading perianth parts in delicate clusters. Growing as a vine with long, zigzag rhizomes and herbaceous stems reaching 2 to 3 meters tall, it winds through forest understories with remarkable flexibility. Its distinctive leaves are 5 to 8 centimeters long, triangular to ovate, dark green on top and glaucous underneath, with a truncate to slightly heart-shaped base and acute or rigid tips. The vine produces dark blue fruits 6 to 8 millimeters long that dry to a dull maroon color.

Habitat: Lakesides, streambanks, alder thickets in montane conifer forest

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: generally 1500-2500 m

Bioregions: KR, CaR.

California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Shasta

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.