Jackson Vine, Lance-leaf Greenbriar
Smilax smallii
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Florists across the South have a name for the green that turns up at every wedding worth attending and every Christmas mantel worth dressing: Jackson vine. Southern smilax, if that is how you came up. The town of Evergreen, Alabama took its name from this very plant, which gives you some idea how far Smilax smallii has wound itself into the region's notion of celebration. Looped down a staircase, run along an altar, drawn the length of a table, they are the foliage that announces something is happening here.
What sets this one apart from the rest of the clan is temperament. Most of the smilax tribe are greenbriers in the truest sense, all hooks and bad attitude, the sort of thing you regret meeting in a hedgerow. Jackson vine comes up nearly thornless apart from a few young shoots near the ground, glossy and evergreen and content to be handled. The leaves are lance-shaped and lacquered, and they keep that shine long after cutting, which is the whole point of the thing. Female plants carry green berries that ripen to black, a quiet bonus for the arrangements that want them.
They grow from a large, potato-like tuber, patient at first, and once the roots take hold the spring shoots come fast and keep coming. Give them sun to part shade and a sandy, free-draining soil, set them against a fence or trellis or anything slim enough for the tendrils to find, and you have less a single vine than a standing crop. Cut from them and they come back. Season after season they become the source you reach for rather than the order you place.
A few years in, you stop buying garland by the box and start growing your own.
Photo credit to Will Stuart.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 7–9
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 20–30 Feet · Spread 3–6 Feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Seasonality
- Evergreen
Small, greenish, inconspicuous, late spring; blue-black berries on female plants
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.