Flora of Pennsylvania

Menispermum canadense

Menispermum canadense Canadian moonseed

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA Add to MyPlants View Locations

Canadian moonseed is a decidious, twining (no tendrils) woody vine growing up to 20 feet tall.  Small dioecious clusters of greenish-white flowers are borne in the leaf axils.  Flowers are 3-merous with all flower parts distinct.  Each female flower in a cluster ripens into a berry-like drupe. These one-seeded blue-black berries look very much like wild grapes and are highly toxic. Ingestion may cause death by inducing a very rapid pulse and severe vomiting.

Frequent along moist shores, woods edges, moist woods and floodplains. Prefers rich, moist soils and light shade.

Present throughout the state.

Range: Native to North America from Manitoba to Quebec and through eastern US south to Georgia and west to Oklahoma.

Wetland codes
EMP: FACU
NCNE: FAC



Flowers in June.

Fruits September & October.

Flowers  dioecious, whitish-green, in small axillary panicles; 6 to 9 petals and sepals, sepals longer than petals; ¼ inch across

  Staminate flowers  12 to 24 white stamens with yellow tips

  Pistillate flowers  2 or 3 pistils; 6-12 sterile stamens

Leaves  alternate, simple; almost orbicular, entire to slightly lobed; on long, slender stalks; peltate near margin; palmately veined; 4-6 inches wide

Fruit  blue-black one-seeded berries; ⅓ inch; seed flattened, crescent-shaped with a rough surface

Root  yellow, long and round in cross-section

Height  3-12 feet when twining naturally; 12-20 feet when supported

S-rank:  S5 (Secure)
G-rank:  G5 (Secure)

This plant contains berberine and similar alkaloids that have long been used in treatment of chronic ailments.  A tea made from root can be used as a tonic, diuretic and laxative.

Lisa S. (Guest)

Posted on 12 May 2026

I have this growing all over the hill in front of the house we're renting. I wanted to dig up all the vegetation there, and plant wild flowers. But now I'm second guessing that, since this is native. But I also don't want the neighborhood kids eating the toxic berries.

 Posted By Admin: @Lisa S. This plant really is a beautiful native vine, and it plays a role in supporting local ecosystems, especially as cover and habitat. If you have a hillside full of it, that’s a sign of a healthy native plant community. It’s also true that the berries are toxic if eaten, so if neighborhood kids play nearby, you might choose to keep some of the vine while removing it from the most accessible areas. Many people let it grow in the upper or less‑trafficked parts of a slope and plant native wildflowers closer to paths or play spaces. So you don’t have to remove all of it, but keep a portion for wildlife and still create room for the wildflowers you want to plant. It’s about finding the balance that is good for your space.
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Menispermum canadense Canadian moonseed

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA
Add to MyPlants View Locations
Menispermum canadense gallery
Plant Summary
woody vine native flower color: white-green
Common Names
Canadian moonseed vine maple Texas sarsaparilla