Smilax glabra goes by many names across two continents, but in traditional Chinese medicine it is best known as Tufuling, a root preparation used for centuries to address inflammation and support the immune system. It holds a similarly honored position in Hindu Ayurvedic practice. Lab studies have pointed to antiviral properties and immune-stimulating compounds, though research remains at the animal stage and the plant’s availability in North America is limited. The shiny evergreen leaves, unmarked and smooth, make it easy to distinguish from its rougher relatives.

In its native range across Asia, the plant grows into trees and over large shrubs, climbing by wiry tendrils that coil around twigs and branches, reaching between 9 and 16 feet in ideal conditions. Like all smilax, it is dioecious: male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and seed production requires both. Spread happens primarily through rhizomes, giving it a steady if quiet persistence. For gardeners interested in medicinal plants from other traditions, this is one of the more intriguing subjects in the genus, even if its cultivation outside its native habitat requires some searching to source.