It is native to eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick) and the eastern United States (as far south as Georgia and Alabama).

[3][4] Its preferred natural habitat is rich forests, and riparian thicket and meadows.

[5] Smilax herbacea is a vine with alternate, simple leaves, on climbing stems.

The plant can grow over 8 feet tall without support, but will eventually fall over unless it successfully finds external support.

[6] In traditional Ainu medicine, applications of the softened leaves were used for healing eye infections, skin eruptions, and wounds.