Ampelopsis arborea
Pepper Vine
an evergreen member of the Ampelopsis genus in the family Vitaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Vitaceae
- Genus
- Ampelopsis
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 10 m
- Flower type
- monoecious
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked. A poor taste[3]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter and contains 3 seeds[5][7]. It is carried in small bunches on the plant, rather like grapes[K]. The flesh is thin and inedible[7].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- Southern N. America - Florida to Texas and north to Illinois and Oklahoma.
- Habitat
- Swampy woods[9]. Rich moist soils[7]. Stream bottoms, fence posts and disturbed areas in Texas[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in pots in a cold frame in the autumn or stratify for 6 weeks at 5°c and sow in the spring[5]. Germination can be quite slow, sometimes taking more than a year. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. When they are more than 20cm tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, preferably in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm long, July/August in a frame[10]. Cuttings or eyes in late autumn or winter. Either place them in the ground in a greenhouse or cold frame, or put them in pots. An eye cutting is where you have just one bud at the top and a short length of stem with a small part of the bark removed. These normally root well and grow away vigorously, being ready to plant into their permanent positions the following autumn. Layering into pots in late summer. Partially sever the stem in spring and then lift the new plants in the autumn[10].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a deep rich loam in a warm sheltered position in sun or semi-shade[5]. A very ornamental plant[1], when dormant it is quite hardy in Britain, but is better grown on a wall[2]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. It rarely flowers or fruits in this country except after a long hot summer[2][4][5]. Plants are deciduous in cold winters[6]. Plants climb by means of coiling tendrils but large plants often need tying in to support the weight of foliage[5]. Any pruning is best carried out in the winter[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00