VITIS. Grape. Northern Hemisphere, especially North America. These are the most familiar of all vines in California, since commercial selections are grown on a vast scale here for wine and table. They often grow quite large, covering trees and anything else in their path with massive leafy curtains and showing their shredding bark in winter. The leaves are usually large, toothed and sometimes lobed. Opposite them at each node are tendrils which wrap tightly around every possible object as a means of support (Don’t turn your back on them). The flowers are small and inconspicuous but borne in generous branched clusters. The grapes are, of course, the part we prize most for consumption and sometimes for ornament. In many species, fall color of the foliage is dazzling. The chief argument against having them in the garden is sheer size and vigor; I can’t think of any others. Sun or—if you don’t mind sacrificing production of the fruit—light shade, reasonably well drained soil, moderate watering in most cases (some are genuinely drought tolerant). Their hardiness varies.
amurensis. East Asia. A robust vine, sometimes growing as high as 50’ (let us hope, not in the current material). The leaves are remarkable. They are up to 10" long, broad in outline, and usually lobed. Their upper surface is a deep, glossy green, changing in fall to purple and fiery red shades. The grapes are small and nearly black–showy but usually too bitter to eat. Below 0oF. A tip o’ the hat to Forestfarm for making it available.
californica ‘Walker Ridge’. California grape. This species is often seen along streams in northern California, clambering over willows and alders and making massive curtains of foliage during the summer months. This selection was part of a maverick population found growing in serpentine soil, fully exposed, and considerably smaller and more colorful than normal. Maximum height and breadth should be around 10’. It has nearly round 3-4" leaves, light green with a greyish cast during the growing season and taking on the reds and oranges of some of the wine grapes in fall. Useful both as a vine and for ground cover, particularly on banks. 10oF. or less
davidii. China. A robust vine, possibly 30’ high in time if left alone. The stems are covered by spiny looking projections, which presumably help it clamber. The leaves are up to 10" long, and angled. Their surface is dark and glossy above, grey-green and matte beneath. When autumn arrives, they repaint themselves in blazing red. The berries are black and decorative, but also quite edible (you will have to decide which use is dearer to you). 10oF. or less.
girdiana. Our southern native, recently received from the good folks at Tree of Life Nursery. This species is quite similar in most respects to V. californica, and has the same uses. However, the stems and undersides of the leaves are more densely coated with small hairs, giving the whole plant a distinctly grey cast. Fall color in this form is golden yellow. Probably hardy to 10oF. or less.