Practical
Plants

Vitis davidii

Spiny Vitis

a deciduous member of the Vitis genus in the family Vitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Vitaceae
Genus
Vitis
Foliage
deciduous
Height
15 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or dried for winter use[1][14]. A harsh flavour[11][7]. A pleasant flavour according to other reports[3][9]. Small but sweet[6]. The fruit is about 16mm in diameter[9]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour[13]. Young tendrils - raw or cooked[13][15].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[4]. Plants can be used as a ground cover in a sunny position[8]. They are best spaced about 3.5 metres apart each way[10]. They can be encouraged to cover the ground by laying brushwood flat on the ground and pegged into position. The twigs would eventually rot and the plant would assume complete and constant control[10].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Thickets[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[K]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings. Layering.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[1][9]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[9]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[9]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Plants climb by means of tendrils[6]. They grow particularly well into elm trees[5]. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[6][9]. Plants are occasionally cultivated for their edible fruits[12][14]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  5. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  15. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

Edit this page