Supplejack is a woody vine of the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) that is native to the Southeast and central USA. It can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from swamps to upland woodlands, growing on the ground or climbing high into trees. In North Carolina, it can be found mainly on the coastal plain. Genus name honors M. Berchem, a French botanist of the 17th century. Specific epithet means "climbing upward" in reference to the climbing habit of this vine. The twining vine can grow up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide with annual growth up to 25 feet. Older vines may have a radius of 2 inches. Supplejack tolerates soils from wet to dry in sun to partial shade. Propagation is by seed or softwood cuttings. Greenish-white flowers appear in late spring and summer, followed by blue fruits in the fall that are eaten by birds and small mammals. The oval green leaves have a distinctive parallel pinnate venation and turn brownish-orange in the fall. The tough stems have been used in wickerworks and for making a walking stick known as supple-jack. It is best used in naturalized and woodland settings. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1 to 2 1/2 inches long oval leaves have prominent veins branching from the midrib and rounded or pointed tips. Margins are entire to slightly wavy.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small greenish-white flowers bloom in open terminal clusters. Blooms from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4 inch fleshy, blue-black fruit, longer than wide and slightly flattened, mature in autumn. Fruit displays from August to October.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Green; Light Gray
Bark detail
Mottled gray and green smooth bark
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Young stems are reddish and smooth. Mature to green-gray up to 1 inch in diameter. The main stem even larger.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE and central. U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Wildlife value
It's fruits are high in calcium and are eaten by songbirds, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, raccoon and gray squirrel. Provides nesting sites for birds.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
Vines can be used for making wicker products and making walking sticks. Used medicinally by native Americans.