Vitis rotundifolia

Vitis rotundifolia, commonly called the Muscadine Grape is a native, deciduous climbing vine unique to the American South. In nature, it is typically found in dry upland forests with especially sandy or rocky soil, swamps, roadsides, and thickets. It is the most common and familiar grape.

Muscadine grapes are large and have thick skin but are good for eating and wine-making due to their sweet, pungent flavor. The grapes appear singularly and not in clusters, and they are purplish-black or bronze in color. The grapes are high in Vitamin C and manganese. Ripe grapes are fully colored and soft and may be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks. Over-ripe grapes tend to appear wrinkled.  The height and width of the vine vary due to the amount of support that the vine receives. Muscadine Grape is dioecious, meaning that a male and female or perfect flowering cultivar is needed to produce fruit. 

Differing from other grape species, the tendrils are simple, while other species have forked tendrils.

While over 300 cultivars are sold in the Southeast United States, most are female. The cultivar 'Scuppernong' was named for the Scuppernong River in northeastern North Carolina.  The Scuppernong grape is the official state fruit of North Carolina.   Popular Cultivars

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring and Summer       Fruit:  Summer and Fall

Quick ID Hints:

• climbing, spreading., a deciduous vine with tendrils
• smooth, non-exfoliating, greenish-brown, or brown bark
• small greenish-yellow white flowers in panicles that bloom from May to June
• the leaves are large, green, shiny, and broad with blunt teeth
• shiny purplish-black to bronze berries that ripen in September and October

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Muscadine grapevines are tolerant of most insects. Aphids and thrips can occur. Animal pests such as raccoons, squirrels, and deer consume the grapes and can impact grape production. Diseases may include powdery mildew, black rot, bitter rot, and leaf spot. 

Their resistance to Pierce's disease and the insect phylloxera makes this vine valuable as a commercial crop.  These diseases are widespread in the southeast US, killing the plant's roots. 

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.  

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Penny Perkins-Veazie, Professor and Postharvest Physiologist at NC State's Plants for Human Health Institute