description Wild Sarsaparilla Overview
Wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis, is a low woodland perennial native to northern and eastern North America. Each plant sends up a divided leaf and a separate flowering stalk bearing rounded umbels of small greenish-white flowers, followed by dark purple or black berries. Its aromatic rhizomes were historically used as a flavoring and as a substitute for true sarsaparilla, although the species belongs to the ginseng family rather than the genus Smilax.
help Wild Sarsaparilla FAQ
What is wild sarsaparilla?
Wild sarsaparilla is Aralia nudicaulis, a low woodland perennial native to northern and eastern North America. It is not the same plant as the tropical vines historically used to flavor sarsaparilla drinks.
What do wild sarsaparilla berries look like?
After flowering, wild sarsaparilla produces rounded clusters of dark purple or black berries. The berries develop from the plant's small greenish-white flowers.
How can you identify wild sarsaparilla leaves?
Each plant typically sends up one divided leaf and a separate flowering stalk. That separation between the leaf stalk and flower stalk is a useful field mark in woodland habitats.
Where does wild sarsaparilla grow?
Wild sarsaparilla grows in northern and eastern North American woodlands. It is a low perennial suited to shaded forest floors rather than sunny meadow conditions.
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