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Climber Wall ShrubHerbaceous Perennial

Bryonia dioica

white bryony

Britain's only native member of the cucumber family. It is a herbaceous, tendrilled climber with separate male and female plants. Leaves are entire and palmately five-lobed. Greenish white flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils from May to August followed by hanging ropes of berries that turn red in autumn

Other common names

devil's cherry
devil's turnip
see moreEnglish mandrake
grapewort
Isle of Wight vine
murrain berries
red bryony
tetterberry
white wild vine
wild hop
bloneg y ddaear

Synonyms

Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, N Africa, SW Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Prefers well-drained, rich soils. Occurs naturally in hedgerows and woods. For more information see bryony

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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