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Nekemias arborea is often confused with:
Toxicodendron radicans poison ivy
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Dirca palustris leaves
Parthenocissus quinquefolia wild form - new growth

Pepper Vine Nekemias arborea

Other Common Name(s):

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

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:
Tags:
#purple#black#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#purple leaves#dark green#red leaves#native shrub#fall interest#showy fruits#small mammals#moist soil#fire extreme flammability#NC native#poisonous fruits#deer resistant#bushy#small and large mammals#non-edible berries#ornamental vine#red fruits#native garden#blue fruits#green fruits#native vine#black fruits#food source summer#white fruits#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#vine#partial shade tolerant#weed#trellis#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#black#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#purple leaves#dark green#red leaves#native shrub#fall interest#showy fruits#small mammals#moist soil#fire extreme flammability#NC native#poisonous fruits#deer resistant#bushy#small and large mammals#non-edible berries#ornamental vine#red fruits#native garden#blue fruits#green fruits#native vine#black fruits#food source summer#white fruits#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#vine#partial shade tolerant#weed#trellis#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Insect Pests
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Children
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Poisonous through ingestion. The poison part is the berries. Symptoms: Unknown; questionably poisonous, but use caution.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unknown
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits