Vitis rotundifolia aka Muscadine Grape

Vitis rotundifolia, or muscadine grape, belongs to the grape family. This woody vine comes from the southern United States. It grows in woods, thickets, swamps, and along roadsides. Wild plants also grow on sandy or rocky uplands. The vine sheds its leaves each year and grows fast. Its height and spread depend on the support it finds.

Several stems climb and spread with the help of tendrils. These tendrils stay unbranched, unlike those of other native grapes. Young bark looks smooth and greenish brown. Older bark turns dark brown and forms upright grooves. The stout twigs have many small pores called lenticels. Shiny green leaves grow in an alternate pattern. Each leaf has a rounded outline and coarse teeth. Leaves may have three lobes and turn yellow in fall.

Small greenish-white flowers form panicles beside the leaves. They bloom from May to June in North Carolina. Bees and other pollinators visit the flowers for nectar. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Female plants need pollen from a suitable partner to fruit. Thick-skinned berries grow alone or in small groups. Their skins range from bronze to deep purple-black. North Carolina fruit ripens from August through October. The sweet fruit has a strong, musky taste.

Give this vine sun and soil that drains well. It also grows in part shade. A warm, sunny site helps the fruit ripen. It accepts many soil types, including clay. Rich, moist loam suits it well. The vine can cope with dry soil and brief seasonal floods. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 4–8 for this species. Prune in winter while the vine rests. Cuts made during active growth can lose much sap. Train it over a fence, trellis, or pergola for screening.

Birds and mammals eat the grapes, while thickets shelter nesting songbirds. People eat the fruit fresh or make wine and preserves. Cooked leaves can wrap food, and young tendrils are edible. Leaves also yield a yellow dye. Native Americans used the fruit for food, medicine, and ceremonies. PFAF reports no known hazards or medicinal uses. Aphids and thrips may attack the vine. Mildew, leaf spot, and fruit rots can occur. Resistance to Pierce’s disease and phylloxera adds crop value. Deer cause moderate damage, and the vine has high flammability.