Pepper Vine Nekemias arborea
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Pepper Vine:
Previously known as:
- Ampelopsis arborea
- Ampelopsis bipinnata
- Phonetic Spelling
- neh-KEE-mee-ass ar-BOR-ee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Peppervine is a native deciduous vine in the Vitaceae (grape) family that is found mainly in the NC coastal plain in wet areas as bogs and along stream banks.
In summer, small, 5-petaled green flowers are borne on short cymes that are followed by a blue-black drupe that matures in late summer to early fall. This plant prefers moist soil and can take full sun to light shade. However, the best fruiting is when it gets full sun.
Peppervine is best left in its native habitat to help feed wildlife as it will overtake a garden area. If you find this plant in your garden it is best to pull it out in the spring before flowering occurs.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant spreads quickly, its seeds being spread by birds and small mammals.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nekemias
- Species:
- arborea
- Family:
- Vitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S.E US
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , OH , OK , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its fleshy fruits are eaten by songbirds and small and large mammals. White-tailed deer browse the leaves and twigs. Wherever the feasting birds and mammals go, peppervine seeds are spread in their droppings..
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Berries are poisonous! Do not eat the berries!
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fleshy round berries mature in fall. They gradually change from green to red to blue-black and often have all colors in a cluster. They are up to 5/8 inch in diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Peppervine has inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in flat-topped clusters from June through August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, bi-pinnately divided and up to 6 inches long and wide. 1-3 pairs of leaflets are ovate and coarsely toothed. Newly emerged leaves are purple-red and change to a light green to dark green as they reach mature size. Foliage turns red in fall. Undersides are a lighter green.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Insect Pests
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Weedy
