Native Plants

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A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Sunday - September 21, 2008

From: Wauconda, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Plant identification of vine with purple fruit
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Illinois: I have a vine, red stems purple fruit with grape like clusters (sweet.hope it wasn't poisonous)What is it?

ANSWER:

Here are some possibilities for your vine:

Ampelopsis arborea (peppervine)

Ampelopsis cordata (heartleaf peppervine)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

and there are four species of grape in Illinois:

Vitis labrusca (fox grape) and photos

Vitis riparia (riverbank grape) and photos

Vitis rupestris (sand grape) and photos

Vitis vulpina (frost grape) and photos

If none of these is your vine, then please take photos and send them to us and we will do our best to identify it. Visit the Mr. Smarty Plants Plant Identification page to read the instructions for submitting photos.

Ampelopsis arborea

Ampelopsis cordata