WHERE’S WILDLIFE • WILDFLOWER FIELD GUIDE

Moonseed

Menispermum canadense

Pronounced (approximate): men-ih-SPER-mum ka-na-DEN-say

A native woodland vine with broad, shield-shaped leaves, tiny greenish-white flowers, and blue-black fruit. Its crescent-shaped seed gives Moonseed its name.

Moonseed: small male flowers with projecting stamens. Tap the photo to open the gallery.

NATIVE • NORTH AMERICA

At a glance

Family Menispermaceae
Life cycle Perennial deciduous woody vine
Blooms May–July in the Midwest
Length Typically 8–20 feet when supported
Habitat Moist woods, thickets, floodplains, and streambanks

Common names
Moonseed · Common Moonseed · Canada Moonseed · Canadian Moonseed · Yellow Parilla

Bloom timing and vine length vary with location. Native status refers to North America; see the regional range below.

Sightings map

Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.

How to recognize it

Key identification clues

Broad, alternate leaves with radiating veins and shallow, often angular lobes.
Leaf stalk attaches to the underside just inside the leaf margin.
Stems climb by twining; tendrils are absent.
Blue-black fruits contain a distinctive crescent-shaped seed.

Where and when to look

Look along wooded streams, moist forest edges, and thickets. Small flowers appear in late spring and early summer; dark fruit is most noticeable later in the season.

Compare similar plants

Wild grapes have tendrils and toothed leaf edges. Moonseed climbs with its stems and has mostly smooth leaf margins. Trace a fruiting stem to its own leaves because vines can grow together.

Poisonous fruit: Moonseed fruit must not be eaten. Its resemblance to wild grapes makes this an important identification distinction.

A closer look

Flower details

Loose clusters of tiny greenish-white flowers emerge along the stems. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants; the male flowers shown here have conspicuous projecting stamens.

Leaves & stems

Long-stalked, simple leaves are arranged alternately. Their rounded blades range from nearly unlobed to several shallow lobes. The stalk meets the lower surface near the base, rather than at the edge.

Whole plant & habitat

Woody stems twine through shrubs and low branches or trail across the ground. Underground rhizomes allow the plant to spread into leafy patches in moist woodland habitats.

Field photographs

10 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): greenish-white male flowers with projecting stamens. — Moonseed: greenish-white male flowers with projecting stamens.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): loose clusters of small flowers along a climbing stem. — Moonseed: loose clusters of small flowers along a climbing stem.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): a leafy tangle of climbing stems. — Moonseed: a leafy tangle of climbing stems.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): rounded, shallowly lobed leaves with radiating veins. — Moonseed: rounded, shallowly lobed leaves with radiating veins.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): broad leaves on a vine climbing a wooden railing. — Moonseed: broad leaves on a vine climbing a wooden railing.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): green and blue-black fruit at different stages of ripening. — Moonseed: green and blue-black fruit at different stages of ripening.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): ripe fruit with a pale waxy coating. — Moonseed: ripe fruit with a pale waxy coating.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): fruit clusters beneath broad vine leaves. — Moonseed: fruit clusters beneath broad vine leaves.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): close view of ripe blue-black fruit. — Moonseed: close view of ripe blue-black fruit.

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense): hanging clusters of blue-black fruit among twining stems. — Moonseed: hanging clusters of blue-black fruit among twining stems.

Range & sightings

Native to central and eastern North America, including Wisconsin and Illinois, extending from southern Canada into northeastern Mexico.

Reported U.S. native distribution
AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV; also the District of Columbia.

State records describe documented distribution, not presence in every county. The observation map shows reported sightings and may include cultivated plants.

Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.

Keep learning

Practice recognizing Moonseed in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.

Sources & further reading

Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.

Moonseed