A vigorous evergreen vine, forming dense, nearly impenetrable thickets. It is common in dunes and maritime forests along the coast of North Carolina, north to Dare County, the northern limit of its range.

Dare Co., NC 11/11/06.

The fruits look like clusters of small grapes. Smilax auriculata is very similar to Smilax bona-nox, but normally grows in dry sandy areas at the immediate coast, while bona-nox has a wide range of habitats. In bona-nox, the umbel's stalk is about the same length as the leaf petiole, the lower stems and prickles are hairy, and the berries usually have one seed. In auriculata, the umbel's stalk is half again as long as the petiole, the stems and prickles are glabrous, and the berries have 2-3 seeds.

Dare Co., NC 11/11/06.