Vitis cordifolia

Michx.

Frost grape, Chicken grape, Winter grape

Vitaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves 7,128 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Vitis cordifolia is a deciduous climbing vine reaching 20 m at a fast growth rate. Hardy to UK zone 5, it flowers May to June with seeds ripening September to October. Hermaphroditic flowers attract insects for pollination. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, tolerating mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. The plant grows in semi-shade or full sun and handles both dry and moist conditions.

Description

A large climbing vine. The branches are long, round and smooth. The bark is loose and falls in strips. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves fall off during the year. They leaves are 12-20 cm long. They are widest near the base and pointed at the tip. They can have 3 lobes. There are teeth along the edge. There are long forked tendrils. The flowers are small with several in groups. The flowering groups are 15 cm long. The fruit hangs in short clusters. The fruit are dark purple.

Edible Uses

The fruit, about 8–12mm in diameter and produced in fairly large bunches, has a spicy, quite tasty flavour but is said to be unpalatable until touched by frost. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried for winter use. Young leaves are best cooked — wrap them around other foods and bake to impart a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils can be eaten raw or cooked. The twigs can be used as a tea substitute.

Traditional Uses

The leaves can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The fruit can be eaten fresh or dried. They can be used for jellies, jams, pies and preserves. The fruit can be used for wine.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Europe, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam. Grows best in a calcareous soil, doing well when lime rubble is incorporated into the soil. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very vigorous plant, climbing by means of tendrils. It grows particularly well into elm trees. The flowers are sweetly scented. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely. This species is often confused with V. vulpina. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Six weeks of cold stratification improves germination, so stored seed should also be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination usually occurs in the first spring but can take another 12 months. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame through their first winter, then plant out in early summer. Cuttings of mature wood from the current season's growth can be taken in December or January and rooted in a frame. These can be 15–30cm long, or short sections about 5cm long with a single bud at the top. For the shorter sections, remove a thin, narrow strip of bark about 3cm long from the lower portion of one side to encourage callusing and root formation; these shorter cuttings require a more sheltered environment than longer ones. Layering is also an option.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves.

Notes

There are 60 to 70 species of Vitis.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Canadian Moonseed

Menispermum canadense

Cbaile19

Safe

Frost grape

Vitis cordifolia

Canadian Moonseed: No tendrils, single crescent/moon-shaped seed, leaf stem attaches to underside of leaf.

Frost grape: Vine with tendrils, round seeds, leaf stem at edge of leaf, bark that peels.

Synonyms

V. vulpina. pro parte.

References (6)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 1. p 371
Fl. bor.-amer. 2:231. 1803 (non Lam. 1793) - an illegitimate later homonym (ICBN Art. 53) that is unavailable for use\; a taxonomic, not nomenclatural, synonym of Vitis cordifolia Lam.
Flowerdew, B., 2000, Complete Fruit Book. Kyle Cathie Ltd., London. p 92
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 683

Show all 6 references