Practical
Plants

Vitis vulpina

Frost Grape

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Vitaceae
Genus
Vitis
Foliage
deciduous
Height
25 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. Very acid when it first ripens, it becomes sweet and edible after exposure to frost[4]. The fruit is 5 - 10mm in diameter[4] and is carried in small bunches[6]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils - raw or cooked.

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The leaves are hepatic[8]. They have been used in the treatment of the liver[8]. The wilted leaves have been applied as a poultice to the breasts to draw away soreness after the birth of a child[8]. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary complaints[8]. An infusion of the roots has been taken in the treatment of rheumatism and diabetes[8].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic

Material uses

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

A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[2]. The sap can be rubbed into the scalp as a tonic for the hair[8].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Central and Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Maryland, Arkansas and Colorado
Habitat
Low woods, stream banks, bases of bluffs and thickets[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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][4]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[4]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[4]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. There has been much confusion in the past between this species, V. cordifolia and V. riparia. Some treatments of the genus only use V. cordifolia and V. riparia, relegating this species to a synonym, but [4] recognizes all three species and this is the treatment followed here[K]. Plants climb by means of tendrils[3]. The flowers are sweetly scented[7]. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[3][4]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[4].

References

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

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

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

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

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  5. McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1986-00-00 ISBN 070060295x

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  6. 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

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  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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