bryony

This isn't your average garden flower. Bryony is a vigorous climbing vine—the kind that twines its stems around trees, hedgerows, and fences. While it may look lush, many species are poisonous, especially the berries, so it is safest to admire them from a distance. Historically, it was used in folk remedies, but those uses were often dangerous because the plant is highly toxic. In literature and art, it is often linked to ideas of entanglement, wildness, and hidden danger in the undergrowth.

The name "bryony" usually refers to two familiar species in British and European landscapes: White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) and Black Bryony (Dioscorea communis). Though they look similar in their habit, they belong to different botanical families. If you spot a tangled green growth dominating a hedge, you may have found one.

Imagine a wild, neglected garden where twisting vines reach for the sunlight. Chances are, among those spiraling tendrils, you will find this old climber. Though not a single species, the name is a common label for two well-known plants. White Bryony belongs to the cucumber family, while Black Bryony is actually a type of wild yam. Despite their different lineages, both are known for quick, aggressive growth and their ability to scale trees and fences with ease.

Historically, this plant held a complex role in folklore. Its thick, fleshy roots were sometimes carved into human-shaped objects and sold as "English Mandrake"—a cheap and equally toxic substitute for the legendary mandrake root. Herbalists used it as a powerful purgative and diuretic, and the line between cure and poison was often dangerously thin. In old herbals and rural poetry, it appears as a symbol of nature’s untamed, choking strength.

Today, bryony is primarily recognized for its danger to people and livestock. Ingesting any part of the plant—especially the red or black berries—can cause severe illness. It still plays an ecological role, offering shelter and food to certain insects and other wildlife. If you encounter its twisting vines in the wild, enjoy the old stories it carries—but keep your distance.