Bryonia dioica Jacq.
Cretan bryonia
White bryony is a vigorous native climbing perennial and Britain's only wild member of the cucumber and gourd family. Each year it scrambles up to several metres through hedgerows from a large, fleshy underground tuber, gripping with coiling, spring-like tendrils.
About
White bryony is a vigorous native climbing perennial and Britain's only wild member of the cucumber and gourd family. Each year it scrambles up to several metres through hedgerows from a large, fleshy underground tuber, gripping with coiling, spring-like tendrils. The lobed, vine-like leaves are rough to the touch, and the small, pale greenish-white flowers, borne on separate male and female plants, give way on the females to strings of berries that ripen from green to glossy red.
It is a plant of hedges, scrub, wood margins and fences, mostly in lowland England, favouring well-drained soils in sun or light shade. Flowering through summer, the blooms attract bees and other insects, including specialist solitary bees. The whole plant, especially the root and berries, is poisonous and should never be eaten. A natural component of hedgerow and field-margin habitats rather than a border or meadow plant.
Also known as
Cretan bryony · White Bryony · red bryonia · red bryony · wild hop
Synonyms
Bryonia arnassensis · Bryonia cretica dioicia · Bryonia dioica subsessilis · Bryonia tinei
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.