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Summary
Vitis vinifera
Grapevines are vining plants predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Eastern Asia. Many grape species have tasty fruit harvested in autumn for fresh fruit or fermentation into wine. Vitis vinifera, also known as the common grape vine, is a grape native to the Mediterranean region, Central Europe and southwestern Asia. The deciduous grapevine has been cultivated since ancient times and is now the world’s most widely planted grape species. Vitis vinifera grows to 30m (100ft) in length with sweet, juicy and delicious fruit; it is also used for dried fruits, including raisins, sultanas and currants. It bears fruit within three years. Fox Grape (V. labrusca) is a better choice for colder conditions. Eat the red fruit raw, dry for winter use or in pies and preserves. The fruit, best after a frost, has a distinctive musky aroma and taste that is only acceptable to some. Oil is obtained from the seed if large amounts of grapes are available from winemaking. Riverbank Grape (V. riparia) is indigenous to North America and very hardy. Muscadine Grape (V. rotundifolia) needs more heat and is well-adapted to its native warm and humid southern US climate, requiring fewer chilling hours. The fruit has a pleasant musky flavour, is good to eat raw and is excellent in jellies and pies. Grapevines produce fruit on shoots from the previous growing season. Grapes need a sheltered site in full sun. Grapevine roots are not aggressive and do not produce as vigorously as many tree roots. The roots are multi-branching, growing to various depths in the soil.
Harvesting: Late summer to early autumn.
Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Spreading or horizontal, Variable height, Variable spread.
Physical Characteristics
Vitis rotundifolia is a deciduous Climber growing to 25 m (82ft 0in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
V. vulpina. non L.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Shoots
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw or dried for winter use[1, 2, 22, 46]. Thick-skinned[61] with a pleasant musky flavour[11, 200, 219]. Pleasant to eat raw, the fruit is excellent in jellies, pies etc[183]. The fruit is up to 25mm in diameter[200] and is produced in small bunches[235]. Leaves - cooked[55]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils - raw or cooked[55, 85].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Dye
Agroforestry uses:
Grapes can be used as ground cover to prevent soil erosion and enhance biodiversity. They also provide habitat for various beneficial insects and wildlife. Landscape Uses:Arbor.
A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[168]. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen:
Yes – Grape flowers are attractive to a variety of pollinators, including bees and other beneficial insects, as they produce nectar.
2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting):
Yes – The fruit (grapes) is highly nutritious and consumed by birds, mammals, and insects. The leaves can also provide some shelter, though they are not typically used for nesting.
3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover):
Yes – The foliage and associated leaf litter can provide shelter for various invertebrates, although they are not specifically known for providing overwintering sites.
4. Pest Confuser (Smell):
Yes – The leaves and fruits of grapevines can have aromatic properties that may help confuse certain pests, although they are also susceptible to various pests.
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[1, 200]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[200]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[200]. Prefers a position in full sun[160] Plants climb by means of tendrils[182]. They grow particularly well up elm trees[18]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in N. America[46, 61], there are some named varieties[183]. Most plants are self-fertile[160], but there are some cultivars that only produce female flowers and require pollination[183]. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[182, 200]. Resistant to Phylloxera disease, a disease that almost destroyed the European grape crops. This species can be used as a rootstock in areas where the disease is prevalent and can also be used in breeding programmes with V. vinifera in order to impart resistance to that species[160]. Plants are , however, susceptible to infestation by aphis[160]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:
North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. Woody. Growth habit is a single or multiple shooting vine from a crown [1-2]. Grapes are usually harvested in late summer to early autumn, specifically from late summer through fall, depending on the variety and climate.
Grapes typically flower in late spring to early summer. Grapes are considered fast-growing vines, often reaching maturity within 3 to 4 years, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[K]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings. Layering.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Muscadine, Southern Fox Grape, Scuppernong, Muscadine Grape,
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Indiana (south), West Virginia, Missouri (southeast), Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Vaccinium vitis-idaea | Cowberry, Lingonberry, Northern mountain cranberry, Cranberry | Shrub | 0.3 |
3-8
| M | LM | SN | M | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Vitis acerifolia | Bush Grape, Mapleleaf grape | Climber | 10.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis aestivalis | Summer Grape, Long grape | Climber | 20.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitis aestivalis argentifolia | Summer Grape | Climber | 25.0 |
3-7
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis aestivalis var. linsecomii | Post-Oak Grape | Climber | 5.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis amurensis | Amur River Grape, Amur grape | Climber | 15.0 |
4-8
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitis arizonica | Canyon Grape | Climber | 5.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis baileyana | Graybark Grape | Climber | 10.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis belaii | Grape | Climber | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis berlandieri | Spanish Grape | Climber | 10.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis californica | California Grape, California wild grape | Climber | 9.0 |
6-9
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Vitis cinerea | Sweet Winter Grape, Graybark grape, Florida grape, Heller's grape | Climber | 0.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis cinerea floridana | Currant Grape | Climber | 0.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Vitis coignetiae | Crimson Glory Vine | Climber | 20.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vitis cordifolia | Frost Grape | Climber | 20.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis davidii | Spiny Vitis | Climber | 15.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vitis flexuosa | | Climber | 8.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitis girdiana | Valley Grape, Desert wild grape | Climber | 12.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Vitis labrusca | Northern Fox Grape, Fox grape | Climber | 15.0 |
4-9
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Vitis labruscana | | Climber | 15.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis lanata | Grape | Climber | 0.0 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitis monticola | Sweet Mountain Grape | Climber | 10.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis munsoniana | Bird Grape, Munson's grape | Climber | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis mustangensis | Mustang Grape | Climber | 10.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis palmata | Red Grape, Catbird grape | Climber | 20.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis parvifolia | | Climber | 0.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Vitis riparia | Riverbank Grape | Climber | 15.0 |
2-6
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Vitis romanetii | | Climber | 10.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitis rupestris | Sand Grape | Climber | 2.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
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