Vitis monticola

Vitis monticola, commonly known as mountain grape, or sweet mountain grape, is a North American species of wild grape native to Texas. It is important to grape growers for its resistance to drought; a quality exploited both genetically in hybridization, and in grafting.

Description

A deciduous climbing vine reaching 10 meters, hardy to UK zone 6. Flowers June to July with seeds ripening September to October. Hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in mildly acid to basic pH, adapting to semi-shaded woodlands or full sun in dry or moist soil.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or dried for winter use. It is described as large and thin-skinned with a tender, juicy, sweet pulp, though another account describes it as small and sweet. Berries are about 12mm in diameter and are borne in bunches. Leaves can be cooked, and young leaves are particularly suited to wrapping around other foods before baking, lending them a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils can be eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam. Grows best in a calcareous soil. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen. Plants climb by means of tendrils. They grow especially well up elm trees. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it ripens. Six weeks of cold stratification improves germination rates, so stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination usually occurs in the first spring but may take another 12 months. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a cold frame, and plant out in early summer. Hardwood cuttings of the current season's growth can be taken in December or January and rooted in a frame. These may be 15–30cm long, or short single-bud sections about 5cm long. For the shorter sections, remove a thin strip of bark roughly 3cm long from the lower side to encourage callusing and rooting; these smaller cuttings need more protection than longer ones. Layering is also an option.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from 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

Sweet mountain grape

Vitis monticola

(c) Ron Chang (curated by Cat Chang), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ron Chang (curated by Cat Chang)

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

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

References (5)

• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 246
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 684
• Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 922
• Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
• Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 13:450. 1862 ("1861")

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