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Lytle, Melody

Vitis monticola

Vitis monticola Buckley

Sweet Mountain Grape, Champin Grape

Vitaceae (Grape Family)

Synonym(s): Vitis aestivalis var. monticola, Vitis champanii, Vitis foexana, Vitis montana, Vitis texana

USDA Symbol: VIMO2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A climbing vine growing in soils underlain with limestone. Similar to the Spanish Grape (Vitis cinerea var. helleri) but with smaller leaves and shorter flower clusters. Leaf blades as broad as long, up to 4 inches in either direction, but usually less, roughly triangular to broadly heart shaped. Flowers in typically forked clusters up to 3 inches long, blossoming in May and June. Grapes up to 1/2 inch in diameter, in compact bunches, ripening in August and September, sweet tasting. Commonly black when completely ripe. But also reddish forms.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Climbing stems up to about 40 feet long.
Fruit: Black.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Habitat: Streambeds and limestone areas; Coryell, Bosque, Palo Pinto counties.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Conditions Comments: Sweet Mountain Grape fruits September-October, and is endemic to Texas. The vines can climb to large heights.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Edible plants native to Austin, TX
August 05, 2009
Hello, I am a chef from Buenos Aires Argentina visiting Austin, Texas and would like to learn about native, edible plants in the region. Please let me know if there are any native, edible plants...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-25
Research By: LAL

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