Common Grape Vitis vinifera
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- VEE-tiss vih-NIFF-er-ah
- Description
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The common grape is a member of the grape family (Vitaceae) native to Europe and central Asia. It is a woody, deciduous vine and is the most common kind of grape sold as fresh fruit in grocery stores. The genus name is Latin for the old world vineyard grape, while the specific epithet means “wine-bearing.”
The common grape prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It should be grown in a location where it is protected from winter winds and frost. A healthy plant needs good circulation. The hot and humid summers of the southern states negatively affect fruit production. To get the most out of this plant, support and training for the climbing structure should be provided. A regular spraying and pruning routine should be followed.
The flowers, leaves and fruit can be eaten. A fully ripened fruit is delicious, being both sweet and juicy. It can be concentrated and used as a sweetener. Wine is also made from the fruit, as well as being dried as raisins or currants. An oil similar to sunflower oil may be made from the seeds.
Besides wine production, the common grape may also be grown as a specimen plant, on a pergola to provide shade for a patio, as a privacy screen or barrier, and used in an edible garden. The exposed vine with peeling bark in winter makes it an attractive addition to a winter garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is particularly susceptible to grape phylloxera. This insect damages roots and disrupts water and nutrient intake which results in loss of leaf surface area, yield reduction and total demise of the plant over a period of 4 to 7 years. Diseases include gray mold, crown gall, botrytis bunch rot, black rot, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Other insect problems can include mealybugs, flea beetles, leaf hopper, leaf roller, Japanese beetle and grape berry moth.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cabernet Franc'
mid-season, small, blue fruits. Performs better than 'Cabernet Sauvignon' - 'Cabernet Sauvignon'
Very late, small, blue fruits. - 'Chardonnay'
Early to mid-season, small, white fruits. Frost susceptible; very prone to foliar diseases - 'Rondo'
- 'Cabernet Franc'
- 'Cabernet Franc', 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Chardonnay', 'Rondo'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cabernet Franc'
mid-season, small, blue fruits. Performs better than 'Cabernet Sauvignon' - 'Cabernet Sauvignon'
Very late, small, blue fruits. - 'Chardonnay'
Early to mid-season, small, white fruits. Frost susceptible; very prone to foliar diseases - 'Rondo'
- 'Cabernet Franc'
- 'Cabernet Franc', 'Cabernet Sauvignon', 'Chardonnay', 'Rondo'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vitis
- Species:
- vinifera
- Family:
- Vitaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in food and winemaking
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Leaf Cutting
- Root Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean, Central Europe and southwestern Asia
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Textural
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Fruits edible raw, cooked, or dried to make raisins. Some cultivars are grown to be fermented and used to make wine and vinegar.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Maintenance:
- High
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of oval-shaped berries. Depending on the cultivar, they may be anywhere from green to red to deep purple in color. The skin surface has a glaucous coating. Some cultivars are bred to be seedless.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Numerous pendulous clusters of tiny non-showy flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large palmately lobed leaves, 3-5 in long with defined teeth. Undersides may be slightly fuzzy. Tendrils at each node opposite the leaves.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- The flaky bark peels off in fibrous strips.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- The beauty of the vine can be seen in winter, when leaves, fruit and blooms are absent. The growth habit make it an attractive addition to a winter garden.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Messy