Porcelain-berry Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-pel-OP-sis gla-dyu-LO-sa brev-i-ped-unk-u-LA-ta
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Porcelain berry is an aggressive weed in the Vitaceae (grape) family of the eastern United States that closely resembles native grapes, Porcelain berry is listed as an Invasive, Exotic Plant of the Southeast reseeding readily and becoming very difficult to remove.
It invades streambanks, pond margins, forest edges, and other disturbed areas. The thick mats formed by this climbing vine can cover and shade out native shrubs and young trees. It spreads very quickly since birds and mammals eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. Native to Japan and northern China, it was first introduced into the United States in 1870 as an ornamental and landscaping plant.
This plant is a deciduous, woody, climbing vine with few tendrils, that reaches heights of more than 20 ft. (6.1 m). or is a trailing, or erect shrub. This plant prefers moist, porous, rich soils and can thrive in a wide range of light availability. This plant flowers on new growth. To manage spread, cut to the ground in late winter.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Japanese beetles will damage the foliage. This plant is weedy, and alternatives should be considered. See the left sidebar for suggestions. The NC Invasive Plant Council lists this as invasive.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Citrulloides
Leaves deeply incised, 5-lobed, with typical green flowers and bluish fruits. - Elegans (variegated foliage)
Slightly smaller leaves, variegated with white; greenish white and tinged pinkish when young.
- Citrulloides
- Citrulloides, Elegans (variegated foliage)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Citrulloides
Leaves deeply incised, 5-lobed, with typical green flowers and bluish fruits. - Elegans (variegated foliage)
Slightly smaller leaves, variegated with white; greenish white and tinged pinkish when young.
- Citrulloides
- Citrulloides, Elegans (variegated foliage)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ampelopsis
- Species:
- brevipedunculata
- Family:
- Vitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan and northern China
- Wildlife Value:
- It spreads very quickly since birds and mammals eat the fruit and disperse the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought tolerant
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Twining
- Edibility:
- NOT EDIBLE! Berries are poisonous.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The rounded to oval berries are blue, green, pink, turquoise, light blue, black, and lavender. They are born in clusters in late summer and fall and are dry or slightly fleshy.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Greenish to white, inconspicuous flowers develop in small clusters in mid-summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are deciduous, alternate, heart -shaped, simple or pinnately divided, and have coarse teeth along the margins. The leaves vary from slightly lobed to deeply dissected.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
