Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Bristly Greenbrier

Smilax bona-nox

Typically in season from March to June, peaking around April to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Wetland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Bristly Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox)

Photo: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · iNaturalist

When Bristly Greenbrier is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Bristly Greenbrier is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Wetland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: Canada moonseed, Wild yam, Roundleaf greenbrier. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Bristly Greenbrier into the field

Open Bristly Greenbrier in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Bristly Greenbrier: common questions

When is Bristly Greenbrier in season?

Bristly Greenbrier is generally in season from March to June, with its peak around April to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Bristly Greenbrier grow?

Bristly Greenbrier is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges, Scrub & hedgerows, Wetland.

Is Bristly Greenbrier safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: Canada moonseed, Wild yam, Roundleaf greenbrier. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits