SMILAX ASPERA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, BENEFITS, CULTIVATION, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2025

Smilax aspera is a species of perennial shrub that belongs to the Smilacaceae family. Commonly known as Moorish, salsaparilla, dog grape, ivy, bramble or sarsaparilla, it is a climbing plant native to Europe, Asia and Africa.

It is a vine with thin, fickle and thorny stems, it has tendrils for climbing and reaches an average length of 2-30 m. The coriaceous and leathery leaves are bright green, the white flowers are grouped in umbels and the fruit is a small bright red berry.

Sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera). Source: User: David Gaya / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Sarsaparilla is a wild plant that is used to cover fences, walls or gates, and is also cultivated as an ornamental species in pots or planters. In herbal medicine, its roots have been used since ancient times to treat skin diseases and relieve rheumatic pain.

In the same way, it has purifying, diuretic, stimulant and sudorific properties, conducive to regulating cholesterol levels, curing urinary system conditions and alleviating flu symptoms. The root was used to craft a very popular refreshing drink at the beginning of the 20th century.

General characteristics

Appearance

Perennial plant with a shrubby or creeping habit, with thin flexible stems provided with thorns, generally reaching 1-2 meters long. Due to its climbing growth and the presence of tendrils, it has the ability to hold onto larger trees or artificial structures and grow up to 30 m in length.

Leaves

The simple and petiolate leaves have a characteristic heart-shaped or triangular shape, are arranged alternately and are 10-12 cm long. The blade has an hastate base and an acute apex, they are bright dark green in color and have a rough texture.

Small spines are frequent at the petiole level, the leaf margins and the main veins. Similarly, at the base of the petiole, two support tendrils are formed.

Smilax aspera leaves. Source: © Hans Hillewaert

flowers

Sarsaparilla is a dioecious spice that blooms between summer and autumn, the small whitish and aromatic flowers are grouped in axillary inflorescences. Each flower is made up of 6 white tepals, and depending on the foot, they have a pistil or 6 stamens. It is a melliferous species.

Fruit

The fruit is a globose berry 5-8 mm in diameter and a bright red color when ripe. Fruiting occurs generously in large clusters during the months of November and December. In its interior 3 seeds are formed.

It is common to confuse the fruits of sarsaparilla with the species Tamus communis (black walnut) whose fruits are poisonous. In this species, the branches are wound clockwise, they lack tendrils and the fruit contains 6 seeds.

Chemical composition

The Smilax aspera species has a high content of essential oils, mineral salts and choline, the precursor molecule of acetylcholine. Also, unsaturated fatty acids such as sarsapic, oleic and palmitic acids, starches, glycosides and steroidal saponins, such as sarsaponin.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Liliopsida

- Order: Liliales

- Family: Smilacaceae

- Gender: Smilax

- Species: Smilax aspera L. 1753

Subspecies

- Smilax aspera subsp. rough

- Smilax aspera subsp. balearica (Wk.) Malag.

Smilax aspera flowers. Source: Meneerke bloem / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Etymology

- Smilax: the name of the genus comes from the Greek myth of the nymph "Smilace" and Croco, who committed suicide because of the frustrated love of the nymph. The myth narrates the suicide of the young man, who turns into a flower, and the transformation of the nymph into a vine.

- rough: the specific adjective in Latin translates as "rough, rough or bristled."

Habitat and distribution

Sarsaparilla is a wild plant found in the lowlands of various types of forests, thickets or brambles. Indeed, it grows under cork oak forests, gallery forests, sclerophyllous forests, holm oaks, oak groves and a great variety of scrub from sea level to 1,500 meters above sea level.

It is a species native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, although it is currently widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate environments around the world. In fact, it is common in Mexico and North America, the Canary Islands, the Iberian and Italian peninsula, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, Bhutan, India, and Nepal in Central Asia.

Thorns and tendrils of Smilax aspera. Source: Zeynel Cebeci / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Health benefits

Sarsaparilla is considered a medicinal plant due to its high content of genins, phytosterols, saponins and saponosides of therapeutic action. Indeed, these chemical compounds give it antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, cleansing and diuretic properties.

Its consumption is indicated in cases of rheumatism or gout, and skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis. Similarly, it is used in cases of flu or colds, anorexia problems, respiratory disorders, menstrual pain or bacterial infections such as syphilis.

Diuretic action

The consumption of an infusion made from sarsaparilla roots favors the symptoms associated with fluid retention. Similarly, it is used in case of urinary disorders, improves blood circulation and helps eliminate uric acid through the urine.

Antibiotic

Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it is used to treat some sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis. In effect, syphilis is a disease caused by bacteria that cause lesions on the genitals, rectum, and mouth.

Fruits of Smilax aspera. Source: © Hans Hillewaert

Purifying

It is used for the symptomatic treatment of kidney problems, cleansing the blood, improving liver function, and reversing possible liver damage. Topically as a poultice, it is effective in eliminating impurities in the skin, such as acne, dermatosis, eczema, boils, psoriasis or hives.

Joint pain

Its anti-inflammatory effect is effective for the treatment of certain joint pain such as arthritis, rheumatoid osteoarthritis and gout. Likewise, it is used to alleviate any type of inflammation, whether internal or external, to clean wounds and heal urinary system infections, such as cystitis.

Expectorant

The ingestion of a very hot infusion of sarsaparilla allows the cleaning of the respiratory system in cases of chronic bronchitis, flu or colds. It is also consumed as a digestive tonic to alleviate intestinal problems, such as poor digestion, or certain disorders related to colic and diarrhea.

Sarsaparilla. Source: Daniel VILLAFRUELA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Contraindications

Although it is indicated for the treatment of certain conditions of the urinary system, its consumption is contraindicated in patients suffering from acute interstitial nephritis. Consumption of high levels of saponins and steroidal glycosides present in sarsaparilla tends to irritate the kidneys and urinary system.

In addition, its prolonged consumption in very high doses is contraindicated in patients with hypertension, diabetes or heart failure. In the same way, its consumption should be limited if it is under medical prescription. In any case, it is always advisable to have medical advice.

Culture

Sarsaparilla is a wild plant that can be grown for ornamental or therapeutic purposes. Its propagation is carried out by means of seeds collected directly from the plant, or vegetatively through root cuttings.

Sarsaparilla seeds do not require any pre-germination treatment, they are sown at the end of the summer in germination trays. It is recommended to use a universal, fertile and well-drained substrate, protect from the sun's rays and maintain humidity until germination begins.

In case of using cuttings, it is recommended to select vigorous roots and cut 10-12 cm in length. These cuttings are placed in wet rooting beds until the new seedlings take root and sprout, the precise moment to transplant to the final place.

The establishment of the plantation should be carried out during the spring or autumn, trying to sow in a deep, porous, fertile and permeable soil. Because it is a climbing plant, it is recommended to place a wooden support that favors its growth. Regular pruning will help shape the plant.

Smilax aspera in its natural habitat. Source: Jon Peli Oleaga / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Care

- Sarsaparilla requires full sun exposure and protection from strong winds to develop and produce abundant flowers. It even develops well in partial shade, tolerates hot environments and supports frost well.

- It grows on any type of soil, preferably sandy-loam or clay-loam, loose and well drained. It grows on fertile or poor soils, preferably alkaline, with a pH of 5.5-8 and low nitrogen content.

- Due to its condition as a wild plant it is used to tolerating long periods of drought. However, it is advisable to make frequent watering applications to improve its performance. During the summer it can be watered every 3-4 days and the rest of the year 1-2 times a week.

- When establishing the crop it is important to incorporate a good portion of organic fertilizer or compost into the land. Similarly, at the time of the entry of rains and before flowering it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium or some organic fertilizer, such as humus, guano or cattle manure.

- Maintenance pruning is essential throughout its production cycle to shape and control its growth. From the moment the plantation is established, formation pruning must be carried out to avoid disproportionate growth of the plant.

- After the production cycle, sanitation pruning should be carried out in order to stimulate the formation of new shoots. In the same way, it is advisable to cut the apical stems to encourage the formation of lateral shoots, as well as to eliminate dry or cold-damaged branches.

- Sarsaparilla is a rustic species, tolerates frequent frosts down to -6 ºC. In addition, it is resistant to the attack of pests and the incidence of fungal diseases.

References

1. Bissanti, G. (2019) Smilax aspera. An Ecosustainable World within i codici della Natura. Recovered in: antropocene.it
2. Cebrián, J. (2018) Sarsaparrilla. Body-Mind. Recovered in: cuerpomente.com
3. Del Campo M., M. (2014). Survival of traditional American plant remedies in current Spanish therapy (Graduate Thesis) Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Pharmacy faculty. Department of Pharmacology.
4. Fernández Encinas, A. (2019) Sarsaparilla (smilax aspera). Living Health. Recovered in: vivelasalud.com
5. Peraza-Moraga, J., Zúñiga-Vega, C., & Palma-Zúñiga, T. (2005). Molecular characterization of sarsaparilla (Smilax regelli and Smilax vanilliodora). Technology in March Magazine, 18 (3).
6. Smilax aspera L. (2009) Catalog of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist. Recovered at: catalogueoflife.org
7. Smilax aspera. (2020, March 15). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org