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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Vitis californica

Vitis californica Benth.

California Wild Grape, California Grape, Western Wild Grape

Vitaceae (Grape Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: VICA5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This is a deciduous vine to 30 ft. that, without support, makes a nice ground cover. Stems have shreddy bark and the leaves are roundish and somewhat 3-lobed. Fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers are followed by clusters of small, edible, purple grapes.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Climber, stems up to about 30 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , OR
Native Distribution: CA Coast Ranges & Sierra foothills to s.w. OR
Native Habitat: Stream banks & moist canyons below 4000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: This can be an aggressively rampant vine so care should be taken to select an adequate space.

Propagation

Description: Grown easily from seeds or cuttings.
Seed Collection: Strip ripe fruits from the vines. Clean seeds before storing in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: No treatment necessary, though a 1 month cool-moist stratification may improve germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vitis californica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vitis californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vitis californica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-11
Research By: TWC Staff

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