The Genus Vitis
Family: Vitaceae
There are currently 90 accepted species of Vitis, the genus of the famous grapes we use for fruit, and to make wine. These species are found mostly in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in North America and eastern Asia, exceptions being a few in the tropics and the wine grape Vitis vinifera which originated in southern Europe and southwestern Asia. The exact number of species is fluctuating, with a number of species in Asia in particular being poorly defined. Many species are sufficiently closely related to allow easy interbreeding and the resultant interspecific hybrids are invariably fertile and vigorous. Thus the concept of a species is less well defined and more likely represents the identification of different ecotypes of Vitis that have evolved in distinct geographical and environmental circumstances. There are about 25 species native to North America.
Grapes are wonderful wildlife plants, providing fruits for birds and other animals. Larval host for numerous moth species including the white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), the polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), and the grapeleaf skeletonizer (Harrisina brillians).
Vitis vinifera, the only Eurasian species, is by far the most famous for wine production.
A NOTE ON THE GRAPELEAF SKELETONIZER (Harrisina metallica)
This is, by far, the most common larvae using grapes in the warm season. It causes a lot of consternation and sometimes panic amongst gardeners. But this insect is native, and the plants it feeds on have evolved with these insects, deemed to be pests.
So long as you meet the needs of your plant (proper sun, water, etc), plants emerge from larval hosting with no problem, even if they are defoliated several times in a season. At our nursery, we do not treat plants that host skeletonizers (nor do we ever “treat” plants for any insect pests). Whether in the ground, or in a container, our plants re-emerge with no issue.
So, as always, we recommend patience. Even fruits will usually come through unaffected by a larval hosting.
Vitis arizonica
Arizona Canyon Grape
Deciduous native grapevine climbing via tendrils to 25’ or more. Plants are dioecious (separate sexes on separate plants). So you need to make sure you have a male and female if you want fruit—or you may have to plant several plants and hope for the best. That is, unless you live near where more are native and have a female.
The arizona grape can take a wide range of conditions if it has regular water. Best grown in part sun or shade, if the plants can climb to sunny spots, but avoid the hot reflective heat of south or west facing walls in summer. Like most sturdy vines, they can take full sun if their roots are shaded. Arizona grape is extremely cold-hardy, to -30°F.
The fruits are edible, though maybe not as desirable as the more domesticated grape species.
Vitis is Latin for vine, while arizonica means of or from Arizona.
Found in canyons and along streams from 2,000-7,500 ft in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah and southern Texas, south throughout northern Mexico.
California Wild Grape
Vitis californica
Vigorous deciduous vine climbing with tendrils to over 30’ tall. In the fall the leaves turn many shades of orange and yellow before losing its leaves then in the spring it flowers typically in May and June. Bunches of small and often sour but edible purple grapes hang from the vines in autumn.
Plant in shady spots. Morning sun is acceptible but avoid reflective afternoon sun, especially in summer. Regular water should be provided. Hardy to at least 15°F.
Vitis is Latin for vine, while californica means of or from California.
The California wild grape grows in canyons, alongside springs, streams. It tends to thrive in damp conditions and so it is common in riparian areas. It can be found on slopes as well as flat ground in wetland and forested habitats. California wild grape is endemic to California and southern Oregon. It is distributed in the North Coast, Klamath and North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, the Central Coast and South Coast Ranges
Roger’s Red Grape
Vitis californica x vinifera
This woody deciduous vine was first noticed by Roger Raiche along the Russian River in northern California. Luckily, he noticed the plant in the fall, as it displayed an outstanding reddish color. It climbs up to about 25’ or more.
This is a hybrid between a native grape (V. californica) and a wine grape cultivar (V. vinifera ‘Alicante Bouschet’). The same genetics that allowed ‘Alicante Bouschet’ to add color to red wines were responsible for the spectacular crimson display that made ‘Roger’s Red’ so distinctive in autumn.
The flowers are small and fragrant, followed by small berry clusters ripening by late summer. The fruit is edible and tasty, and is a rare treat for birds and other wildlife.
Plant in full to part sun, but avoid the reflective heat of southern or western-facing walls. Moderate water is fine when plants are established. This vine is hardy to about 0°F.
Fox Grape
Vitis labrusca
Deciduous vine climbing about 20’ tall. The majority of Vitis labrusca grape varieties are red, although white varieties such as Niagara and "pink-skinned" varieties such as Catawba have dark colored berries high in phenolic compounds that produced strongly flavored wines. As the berries near harvest and become fully ripe, they separate easily from the pedicel (berry stem). If the berry is squeezed gently between two fingers, the thick skin will slip easily off leaving the pulp intact as a ball. This trait gives Vitis labrusca the name of "slip skin" grapes.
Plant in shady spots. Morning sun is acceptible but avoid reflective afternoon sun, especially in summer. Regular water should be provided. Hardy to -15 to -20F.
Vitis is Latin for vine, while labrusca is also Latin, meaning wild vine.
Vitis labrusca occurs in a variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, roadsides, thickets, and forest edges, primarily in moist to wet areas distributed along the eastern seaboard of North America from Nova Scotia down to Georgia and westward to the Mississippi River.
Vitis vinifera
Common Grape Vine
This is the most common grape grown in the world. A deciduous vine climbing with tendrils, climbing up to 50’, though the vigor of different varieties will vary. Inconspicuous flowers will develop into grapes of varying quality depending on the variety.
Plant in full to part sun, but avoid reflective heat from south and west-facing walls. Provide regular water and feed annually in spring with a general purpose organic fertilizer. Cold hardiness varies with each variety, but most if not all varieties are hardy for our region, most being able to tolerate temperature below zero.
Vitis vinifera is thought to be native to the area near the Caspian Sea in southwestern Asia. The Phoenicians carried wine cultivars to Greece, Rome and southern France, and the Romans spread the grape throughout Europe.