North Carolina Wildflowers

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Vitaceae > Vitis (grape)

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Mixed forest edge in Orange Co., NC
29 Oct 2008

Although other species of grapes may have round leaves, this round-leafed grape is the most common and widespread grape in NC. Cultivars are used for making wine in the southeastern US.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Wake Co., NC
23 May 2009

Unilke other grape species in the NC piedmont, Muscadine Grape has unbranched tendrils.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Wake Co., NC
23 May 2009

Flower buds appear in spring and flowering begins in late spring or early summer.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Mixed forest edge in Orange Co., NC
29 Oct 2008

Ripe grapes are bronze to reddish-purple to dark purple. The flesh is sweet and distinctively flavored, which some people (like me!) really like.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Mixed maritime forest edge in Dare Co., NC
6 Nov 2008
Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Wake Co., NC
23 May 2009

Note prominent lenticels on younger bark and reddish colored nodes on current-year growth.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Wake Co., NC
23 May 2009

Pith is continuous (not chambered nor interrupted) through the nodes.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Mixed forest edge in Orange Co., NC
29 Oct 2008

Older bark splits vertically becoming only slightly shredded but most of the vine shows adherent bark. Other species of grapes have much more shredded bark on the vine stems.

Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia) Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia var. rotundifolia)
Young pine forest in Orange Co., NC
9 June 2010

Seen here about mid-canopy.


Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Common statewide in forested habitats in North Carolina.

Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Leaves are glaucous and hairy underneath. Tendrils are split.

Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009


Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana) Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana)
Edge of field near woods in Durham Co., NC
18 May 2009

Leaves are fairly large and sometimes slightly 3-lobed on this species that is common in moist forested habitats in NC.

Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana) Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana)
Edge of field near woods in Durham Co., NC
18 May 2009

Flower close-up.

Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana) Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana)
Edge of field near woods in Durham Co., NC
18 May 2009

Tendrils are bifid (split in two) and nodes tend to be colored reddish. Current year stems are angled in cross section, and the pith is interrupted at the nodes in Graybark Grape.

Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana) Possum Grape, Graybark Grape (Vitis cinerea var. baileyana)
Edge of field near woods in Durham Co., NC
18 May 2009

Leaves are glabrous to slightly hairy beneath.


probably Florida Grape (Vitis cinerea var. floridana)
Ft. Fisher area in New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

probably Florida Grape (Vitis cinerea var. floridana)
Ft. Fisher area in New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008


Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Common statewide in wooded habitats in North Carolina.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
22 May 2008

Frost Grape generally flowers in May in NC

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
22 May 2008

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
22 May 2008

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Leaves are not glaucous beneath, but may have a few hairs.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Occasionally some leaves are deeply lobed, but most are not.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Tendrils are split.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Twigs are round (terete) in cross section.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

The pith is not continuous through the node but rather has a plug or diaphragm.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Durham Co., NC
11 Oct 2013
Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Durham Co., NC
11 Oct 2013
Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Durham Co., NC
11 Oct 2013
Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009

Bark is shreddy, even on young vines.

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
22 May 2008

Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina) Frost Grape, Winter Grape, Chicken Grape (Vitis vulpina)
Edge of field and forest in Orange Co., NC
1 June 2009



Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on ... May 29, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com