Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - March 19, 2010
From: Fort Worth, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Grapevine for pot in Ft. Worth
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Can I plant a grapevine in a large clay pot in Fort Worth, Texas?ANSWER:
Let us first refer you to our How-To Article on Container Gardening with Native Plants. That will help you make your decisions. Beyond that, we are going to search our Native Plant Database to find grapes that are native to North Central Texas. We found three members of the genus Vitis, grapes, that are native to Texas. While none of these is necessarily native to your area, you can probably help them to adapt since they will be in a pot with good soil, water and care. All of these grapes are considered palatable, and can make good jelly, if you don't mind using a lot of sugar.
One caution: these grape vines all get looong, and will soon be twining around and growing up everything they can get close to. You have surely driven down the highway and noticed great mounds of green that appeared to be grapevines. Under that mound is probably a dead tree, killed by its lack of access to sunlight, caused by the grapes growing over it. You can always experiment with the variety you select, cutting it back when it becomes too aggressive toward other plants, controlling it that way. Since we have no personal experience with growing grapevines in an urban setting, you would do well to contact the Texas AgriLife Extension Office for Tarrant County for more close to home advice. Follow the plant links below to the page on each grape to learn its soil needs, etc.
Vine Possibilities for North Central Texas:
Vitis cinerea var. helleri (Heller's grape) - 36 to 72 ft., medium water use, part shade
Vitis mustangensis (mustang grape) - 36 to 72 ft., medium water use, part shade
Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine) - sometimes exceeds 90 ft., medium water use, part shade
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Vines Questions
Rash resulting from cutting trees in NC.
May 08, 2012 - My boyfriend was cutting some trees yesterday. He had thorns in his hands after he was done, and today he has a rash on his legs, a fever and he feels like throwing up. Can you tell me if its symptoms...
view the full question and answer
Vine for 60 foot long by 2 foot high cinder block wall
May 20, 2016 - Looking for a vine to cover a 60 foot long 2 foot high cinder block wall.
view the full question and answer
Pipevine (Aristolochia sp.) found in Denton County Texas
August 24, 2009 - I am almost positive that I have numerous pipevine swallowtail in my garden in Denton County, TX. I read that the host plant for the larva is almost exclusively pipevine. Would any kind of pipevine be...
view the full question and answer
Huckleberries and blueberries from Vancouver WA
April 14, 2013 - Can you plant a blueberry next to a huckleberry?
view the full question and answer
Climbing vines for partial shade in North Texas
June 12, 2014 - I've read your recommendations for climbing vines in partial-shade, but requestor was from Central Texas (Austin-area). Would those recommendations hold true for North Texas (DFW area)?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |