Smilax ornata Seeds | Sarsaparilla
LATIN NAME: Smilax ornata
COMMON NAME: Sarsaparilla
Plant Profile
Smilax ornata, better known as Sarsaparilla, is a fine, generous vine in the lily family. Sarsaparilla is tough, prickly, climbing or scrambling vine of warm, moist woods, and its long, slender stems of glossy, heart-shaped leaves have been a familiar of warm world for a very long time. Vine climbs up trees and supports with help of tendrils, and round heads of small, greenish-white flowers open through season, to be followed by small, dark, berry-like fruits. Roots have a long and careful record of use in traditional practice of the region. Its flowers draw a steady traffic of bees and other beneficial insects. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Smilax ornata, a representative of the lily family with clear practical value. Sarsaparilla has a well-documented place in plant science, and roots have been studied for a long time for their place in traditional practice of warm world. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Sarsaparilla for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Sarsaparilla is grown for roots and record of use. Long, slender roots have a traditional place in practice of region, and they have been gathered and studied for a very long time. In garden glossy, heart-shaped leaves and twining stems make a fine, vigorous cover for a wall, a fence or a trellis in warm, shaded spot, and small, dark berries are a food for the birds. Given the right start, it carries on with minimal intervention.
Greenbrier rhizome, Tu Fu Ling, is a classical Chinese herb for damp-heat skin and joint conditions, and sarsaparilla relatives flavored the original soft drinks; the tendrilled vines are handsome wildlings.
Growing from Seed
Raising Sarsaparilla from seed is straightforward. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Given the right start, Sarsaparilla is a long-term garden companion. Once the young plants are away, there is little left to do but watch them grow.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Sarsaparilla often pair it with these related subjects: