Other Names:  California Wild Grape, Western Wild Grape

Description:

A vigorous, strong growing vine covered in broad, bright green leaves; subtle flowers in spring are followed by small, edible berries in summer, excellent for jellies or juice; use as a screen for arbors or winding along fences; cut back yearly in winter

Edible Qualities

California Grape is a woody vine that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces small clusters of deep purple round fruit with silvery blue overtones which are typically harvested when mature. The fruits have a tart taste and a juicy texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Preserves
• Juice-Making
• Wine-Making

Features & Attributes

California Grape has light green deciduous foliage which emerges grayish green in spring on a plant with a spreading habit of growth. The large serrated heart-shaped leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow, orange and crimson in the fall. It produces abundant clusters of deep purple grapes with silvery blue overtones from mid summer to early fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous woody vine with a spreading, ground-hugging habit of growth. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and requires a special pruning regimen to reliably produce fruit; consult a specific reference guide or contact the store for proper pruning techniques. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Aside from its primary use as an edible, California Grape is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

California Grape will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. As a climbing vine, it should be planted next to a fence, trellis or other rigid structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This is a dioecious species, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Only the females will produce fruit, and a male variety of the same species is required nearby as a pollinator.

This woody vine is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America.