The evergreen Smilax laurifolia has a long ornamental history as a valuable trellis specimen over entrance doors of wealthy homes in the Southeast US. Since it doesn't spread and each plant is either male or female, no seed will be produced without both sexes, hence its rarity in commerce. In the wild, Smilax laurifolia can be found growing in swamps and pocosins from New Jersey southwest to Texas, although in gardens it is quite tolerant of dry sites in either sun or light shade.