Vitis

( VIH - tis )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of vining plants is commonly called Grapevine, and contains many species and cultivars. They do best in full sun with regular waterings, especially during flowering and fruiting seasons. Species form vigorous, woody vines that are cultivated for their fruits, as shade-providing climbers, or simply for their ornamental value. They provide bold-textured foliage to landscapes, edible fruits, and dominant trunk and branching patterns that are pleasant to look at even when not leafed out in wintertime. Use Grapevine to line fences, provide shade over patios or walkways, as privacy screening foliage plants, or simply for their delicious fruits.

Vitis Species and Varietals

The genus Vitis is a member of the plant family Vitaceae and includes 81 species. The best growing zones for these vines varies depending on the species grown. For more information, see the species information below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map

Vitis aestivalis (Summer Grape, Pigeon Grape)
Native to eastern North America, these vines can reach over 32 feet tall/long. Leaves are green and a little broader than they are long, and flowers are produced in dense panicles, followed by small, dark purple to black grapes. The species prefers a drier, more upland habitat than others in the genus. Cultivar 'Norton' is recognized as the oldest grape variety in commercial production.

Vitis amurensis (Amur Grape)
This species is native to Asia, and is frost-resistant, but not drought-tolerant. They have moderately good resistances to ripe rot and mildews. They typically spread to between 50 and 60 feet long, and have dark, scaly bark when mature. Leaves are green and vary greatly in shape. In fall, foliage turns bright red, yellow, and orange. Flowers bloom in May, and are followed by black to purple or dark blue berries that range from acidic to sweet. They have thick skin. The species is commonly used as an ornamental plant for vertical gardening.

Vitis arizonica (Wild Grape, Arizona Grape, Canyon Grape, Uva del Monte)
These deciduous grapevines are native to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Teas, and northern Mexico, where they grow in a variety of habitats. The species can tolerate drought as well as cold temperatures. Between 6.5 and 19.5 foot long stems. Flowers are white, and fruits are edible but sometimes bitter, with black, thick skin.

Vitis bellula (Beautiful Grape, Small-Leaf Hair Grape)
These plants are native to China, and take the form of woody vines. They bear good crops of medium-sized purple to blackish grapes.

Vitis berlandieri (Fall Grape)
These plants have a good tolerance to chlorosis in high lime-content soils, and are native to Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Vitis bryoniifolia (Ying Yu, Hua Bei Pu Tao, Three-Spiked-Leafed Ying Yu)
The plants in this species are native to China. They are prolific producers of fruits and are also adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions. They grow in forests and shrublands, and produce rosy to plum-colored berries from June through October in their native range.

Vitis californica (California Wild Grape, Northern California Grape, Pacific Grape)
This wild grape species is native to western North America, and forms a deciduous vine that grows quickly to up to 33 feet. Flowers appear in May and June, followed by sour but edible dark purple to black grapes. These are strong, robust plants used commonly for rootstock for other grape cultivars. Varieties include 'Roger's Red' (with brilliant red foliage in fall), and 'Walker Ridge' (with yellow leaves in autumn). Fruits are typically used to make wine or jelly. Best in zones 4-24.

Vitis chunganensis (Dong Nan Pu Tao, Southeast Grape)
These vining plants are native to China, where they grow in forests and shrublands, typically near streams. Flowers bloom from April through June, and grapes that follow are very dark purple, ready for harvesting from June through August.

Vitis cinerea (Graybark Grape, Winter Grape, Possum Grape)
Native to the eastern United States (mainly Missouri and Louisiana), these plants are considered American native grapes. Leaves are finely wrinkled and green, and buds are grey to ashy-violet in color. Individual vines can reach up to almost 33 feet long, and flowers bloom between June and July. Fruits are sweet-tart when mature, and have black skin with a whitish bloom. Reseeds freely.

Vitis coignetiae (Crimson Glory Vine, Meoru, Yama-Budo)
These vines are native to temperate zones in Asia, and are very vigorous growers. Shoots are grey-brown and tomentose, and leaves are deciduous, large, and dark green, turning reddish-orange in fall. Berries are small and purple-black. They are edible but bitter. They are typically grown as ornamentals for their colorful fall foliage or as medicinal plants. The berries are used to produce wines in Korea and Japan.

Vitis girdiana (Desert Wild Grape, Coyote Grape, Valley Grape)
These vines are native to southern California and Baja California, Mexico. New growth is coated in woolly hairs, and leaves (also woolly) are heart shaped and green. Flowers bloom in spring and summer and are followed by spherical black grapes.

Vitis labrusca (Fox Grape)
This species is native to eastern North America, and is the parent of many popular grape cultivars and hybrids. Berries produced by this species have 'slip-skin', which allows the skin to easily slide off the fruit when squished. The species produces reddish-purple to black fruits, though this varies depending on the cultivar. Can be a weedy or invasive plant in certain areas, check with local authorities before planting. Cultivars include 'Catawba', 'Concord', 'Delaware', 'Isabella', 'Niagara', 'Agawam', 'Alexander', and 'Onaka'.

Vitis mustangensis (Mustang Grape)
This species is native to the southern United States, and is a woody species that produces small clusters of dark purple berries between the months of July and September. Berries have a thick outer flesh layer, and can be potentially irritating to skin when handled. They are bitter and highly acidic when raw. The fruits are typically used in jellies, pies, wines, and grape juices, in all instances sweetened with a good amount of sugar to make them palatable. The red wine made from these grapes is called Mustang Wine.

Vitis palmata (Catbird Grape, Cat Grape, Missouri Grape)
This species is native to the south-central and southeastern areas of the United States, and does best in wet habitats. Vines produced branched tendrils used for climbing, and dark purple to blackish berries that are ripe in late summertime. They are used to make wild grape jelly, but they are not always juicy or particularly flavorful.

Vitis riparia (Riverbank Grape, Frost Grape)
These climbing or trailing vines are widely distributed across eastern and central North America, and produce dark fruits that are appetizing to both humans and wildlife. The species has extensive cold hardiness and disease resistance, and has been used extensively in grape cultivar breeding programs as well as for rootstock material.

Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine)
These grapevines are native to the southeastern and south-central United States, and are extensively cultivated. They thrive in summer heat, and need fewer chill hours that most other species in the genus. Berries can be bronze to purple when ripe, though wild plants sometimes produce mature fruits that are green. These fruits are typically used to make artisan wines, pies, and jellies.

'Black Beauty'
1.25 in. fruits with sweet flavor.

'Carlos'
Good for jelly, wine, and juice.

'Cowart'
Excellent flavor with high sugar content.

'Granny Val'
Prolific producer of sweet fruits with edible skin.

'Ison'
Blackish fruits with great flavor used for wines, preserves, and pies.

'Jumbo'
Very large, dark purple-black fruits with excellent flavor. Eat fresh, or turn into juice or wine.

'Magnolia'
Productive vine. Fruits are good for making white wine.

'Nesbitt'
High yield of large black grapes.

'Noble'
Dark purple to black berries with sweet, rich flavor. Use for wines, jellies, juices and eating fresh.

'Southern Home'
Perfect for home gardens, with sweet, flavorful grapes for wine, eating, and juicing.

'Summit'
Productive vine with medium to large fruits.

Vitis rupestris (July Grape, Mountain Grape, Rock Grape, Cono Grape, Currant Grape)
This species is typically used to breed hybrids and as a rootstock. It is native to Missouri and Arkansas, and forms a self-supporting bushy plant that needs full sun. The species is considered vulnerable to extinction in its native range due to river damming and destruction of islands.

Vitis vinifera (Common Grape Vine, European Grape)
These flowering vines are native to the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and Asia. There are between 5 and 10 thousand varieties of this species, which is cultivated on every continent in the world except for Antarctica. Vines reach between 40 and 50 feet long, and leaves are green and have prickly margins. Flowers are small and green-white, followed by berries that mature to dark blue or greenish. Cultivated varieties typically have larger fruits than the straight species, and produce red, green, purple, or black grapes. The varieties listed below include cultivars of this species, as well as hybrids of this species crossed with Vitis labrusca.

'Autumn Royal'
Large, seedless black-purple grape, good for eating fresh or making raisins.

'Autumn Seedless'
Seedless pale green to golden grapes for fresh eating or raisins.

'Black Monukka'
Seedless, purple-black fruits good for home gardens. Popular variety.

'Crimson Seedless'
Large, seedless red grapes, for eating fresh or raisins. Hardy.

'Delight'
Large, seedless green-yellow fruits used fresh or dried, succeeds in mild-winter areas.

'Early Muscat'
Green seeded fruits, used for Muscat wine in the Northeast.

'Fantasy'
Large, seedless blue-black with sweet, rich flavor. For eating fresh or wine.

'Flame'
Seedless red good for eating fresh or raisins.

'Golden Muscat'
Very large, seeded fruits with citrus flavor good for fresh eating.

'Himrod'
Seedless white grape with spicy flavor, good for fresh eating. Vigorous, hardy to -15 degrees Fahrenheit.

'Interlaken'
Seedless green to yellow grapes with fruity flavor, excellent for eating fresh.

'Muscat of Alexandria'
Large, round green to amber fruits for eating fresh, juicing, wine, and raisins.

'Muscat Hamburg'
Seeded black grapes with orange-like flavor. Good for eating fresh or wine.

'Perlette'
Seedless pale yellow fruits for fresh eating. Likes some heat.

'Ribier'
Very large, seeded grapes with mild flavor good for eating fresh.

'Reliance'
Seedless red with mild flavor good for eating fresh or juice.

'Ruby Seedless'
Seedless dark red fruits good for desserts. Susceptible to powdery mildew.

'Swenson Red'
Meaty, seeded red grapes with fruity flavor good for fresh eating, juice, or wine.

'Thompson Seedless'
Small, sweet seedless greenish fruits good for eating fresh or making raisins.

Vitis vulpina (Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Fox Grape, Wild Grape, Chicken Grape)
This species is widespread across the eastern and central United states and southern Canada, and is hardy down to -23 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants have the potential to reach up to 83 feet long, and produces a thick trunk and red tendrils. Fruits are tart and acidic, becoming sweet after exposure to frosty temperatures.

Caring for Vitis

Grapes are some of the most rewarding plants that home gardeners can cultivate, with their beautiful foliage, twisted trunks, and productive capacity. They prefer a spot in full sun, and require very well-draining soil to succeed. They are commonly planted on sloped areas to achieve this soil quality, but can also be planted in flat spaces if soil is not waterlogged. Soil should be very fertile and deep enough to accommodate the root system of these vines. The best time to plant bare-root grapevines is in their dormancy (wintertime). Trim roots of bare root vines to about six inches before planting. Nursery plants can be installed as they are, after root balls are broken up a bit and trimmed. If growing multiple vines, make sure to check spacing requirements, as they vary depending on the species and variety grown. Generally, 8-10 feet between plants is sufficient. Amend the planting site with plenty of organic material and compost before planting vines to improve soil structure, fertility, and drainage. After planting, cut top growth back to just two to three buds for bare-root plants.

Grapevines require some support to grow and produce well. Trellises or other structures are needed to help guide stems and spread them out so that there is good airflow through the plant's foliage and stems, reducing pest and disease issues. Set up supports before planting. After installing grapevines, water them in and apply a thick layer of mulch around their base, ensuring that mulch stays a few inches away from stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature. The best way to provide ongoing irrigation to grapevine plants is to set up a drip watering system. Many diseases of grapevine result from water splashing up onto leaves, and utilizing a drip irrigation system cuts out this variable. Fertilize plants every year in springtime by pulling mulch back and adding compost to the root zone. Work it into the soil, water it in, and then replace mulch.

In the first year after planting, it is recommended to simply allow vines to grow unchecked. During the first winter (late wintertime), select the sturdiest shoot that will become the main trunk of the vine. Tie it to the support structure, and then shorten it to the first three or four lowest buds. Remove all other shoots, and then allow the plant to grow over the season. In the second spring in the ground, once buds have grown out into shoots that reach 6-8 inches long, choose the strongest one that is closest to growing straight up from the chosen 'trunk' stem and tie it to the post to train it directly upwards. If growing vines against a fence, also select two more strong lower shoots to use as 'arms', and tie them to a lower horizontal support. Then, cut off all other shoots. When plants grow to reach the top of their supports, pinch them back to force branching.

Grapes produce fruits on stems that develop from year-old wood (stems that formed in the previous season). These stems will have smooth bark compared to the older stems. Prune yearly to limit the amount of fruiting wood to make sure that the plant doesn't produce to much fruit and that the fruit it does bear is good quality. Prune in the dormant season (winter). Regular prunings can begin to be carried out in the plant's third year in the ground.

Propagation

Grapevines are best propagated using the cutting method. Although grapes do produce seeds (some varieties do, at least), it is much more common to see grapevines be vegetatively propagated because they will begin to produce fruits much sooner. To propagate your grapevine, follow the instructions below:

During harvest (or just a bit before), select the vines you will propagate. Vines should be producing, but not over-producing, and cuttings are typically taken from the previous year's growth of one-year-old wood. Mark them for cutting, which will happen at any time during the dormant season in wintertime. Avoid taking cuttings when weather is cold and dry, as this will significantly lower the rooting rate. Make sure that the plant has had a good watering the day before, as this will increase chances of success.
Using a pair of cleaned garden shears, take a cutting that is between 14 and 16 inches long, with at least three buds but not more than 6-7 buds. Tie cuttings together in bundles for storage, and label them (especially important if taking cuttings from more than one plant or variety). Keep cuttings in a bag of moist wood shavings, sawdust, or peat moss. Store cuttings in a refrigerator. When weather begins to warm in springtime, remove them from the refrigerator. Do not ever allow the cuttings to dry out, or they will not be viable.
Place cuttings directly into the ground or into containers filled with well-draining potting soil. Do not use rooting hormone on grapevine cuttings. Then, ensure that the cuttings receive between 8 and 10 hours of sunlight per day, provide consistent irrigation, and enjoy watching them sprout.

Problems and Pests

Vitis vines can have issues with the following pests and diseases in the garden:

Aphids
Black Vine Weevil
Branch and Twig Borer
Cutworms
Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
Grape Bud Beetle
Grasshoppers
Katydid
Leafhoppers
Mealybugs
Downy Mildew
Powdery Mildew
Eutype Dieback
Measles

Grape Erineum Mite
Spider Mite
Nematodes
Leafrollers
Caterpillar
Scale Insects
Sphinx Moth
Thrips
Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer
Whiteflies
Root Rot
Grown Gall
Pierce's Disease
Phomopsis Cane and Leaf Spot

For more information on these pests and diseases, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues

Gallery

There are countless varieties of grapes, all with different fruit colors, flavors, and intended uses.

Many backyard gardeners will grow grapevines on trellises or gazebos, because the vines provide a nice amount of shade, and it makes harvesting quite simple.