Vitis aestivalis Michx. var. aestivalis

Summer Grape

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Summer Grape is a native perennial woody vine in the Grape family (Vitaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Summer Grape occurs in (usually) dry woodlands, in cut over woods, along forest margins, and on fences. Summer Grape climbs by means of tendrils. Vine can grow from 10-35 feet in length. The bark on older vines is bark brown and peels in strips. Leaves are alternate, deciduous, and orbicular to oval in outline. Leaves may have 3-5 shallow or deep lobes. Mature leaves are green above and glabrous or pubescent. The lower surface of the leaf is glaucous and densely or slightly arachnoid-pubescent. Flowers are produced in dense panicles. Flowers may be staminate (flowers have only functional stamens and lacking functional carpels), pistillate (flowers having functional carpels and lacking functional stamens), or perfect (with both functioning stamens and carpels). Individual flowers have 5 narrow greenish-yellow petals. Flowers are fragrant. The fruit is a berry. Fruit varies from sweet to tart in flavor. Two varieties of Summer Grape have been reported from Alabama. Silverleaf Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis Michaux var. bicolor Deam) is found in northern Alabama. It has slightly smaller fruit, leaves that are glabrate below, and glaucous nodes. Vitis aestivalis Michaux var. aestivalis occurs state wide. Summer Grape is sometimes available from nurseries. There are several varieties including “Norton”, which is considered by many to be the best native grape for wine production. The Southern Grape Growers community on Facebook is a great source for information on growing grapes in the Deep South.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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