There are vines everywhere in the woods. Like everything else, there are good vines and bad vines. Poison Ivy would be considered a bad vine. If you touch it, you are likely to get a rash. Wild grape vines are common in the United States. They are pretty easy to identify. Although they are technically a fruit, they can choke out other trees. They are half good and half bad. Read on to find out more about wild grape vines.

Family, Genus, & Species

The Grape Family is Vitaceae. The genus is Vitis. Under the genus there are dozens of species. Most are native to North America. I’m not going to talk about any specific one. Wild Grape Vines grow prolifically. They are found in woods, disturbed areas, along fencerows, and in unwanted cultivated areas. Some gardeners refer to them as weeds. They possibly grow better than grape cultivars. Their woody roots can live for years.

What exactly is a Wild Grape Vine?

Grape vines are perennial climbing or trailing vines. Vining plants are plants that do not have a solid upright trunk. These vines use forking tendrils to hook on to branches of other plants. Hooking on to other branches helps the grape vine grow further into and up the trees. They also grow from one tree to another. Sometimes they cover a tree’s canopy enough to cause damage. Dense foliage blocks light to the tree, slowing growth and negatively impacting photosynthesis. Main vines grow up and out, and then smaller vines droop down forming the characteristic grape vine with grapes.

Leaves and Bark

Leaves can grow large. Up to 6” long and 4” across. They grow alternate on the stems.  Characteristics of leaves are described as simple, heart shaped, toothed, and sometimes lobes are present. The leaf veins start at the point where the leaf attaches to the stem or petiole. They radiate out like fingers.

The woody vine is covered with shaggy bark.

Wild Grape Vine Flowers

These vines produce lovely, fragrant flowers in the spring. The clusters of white flowers turn into clusters of green grapes. They are small, green, and they do not resemble store bought grapes. Supposedly they are good to eat, however I have not tried them. The grapes are great food for birds and other animals. Wildlife disperses the seeds.