Maiden grapes: characteristics and description of the variety, reviews

Maiden grapes are a striking member of the grape family. Unlike common grapes, they do not produce edible berries, but their entire value lies in the decorative beauty of their unusually shaped foliage, which is particularly striking in late autumn.

General description

The botanical name for maidenhair vine is Parthenocissus, which translates as "virgin ivy." This name derives from the plant's biological characteristics: the leaf structure resembles that of ivy. The word "virgin" refers to the flowers' ability to produce fruits and seeds without pollination. In the wild, maidenhair vine is widespread in East Asia, North America, and the Himalayas.

Grape vines are long, flexible vines that can reach 25-30 meters in length. They can grow upward, clinging to vertical surfaces with their suckers, or creep along the ground, wrapping their branches around anything in their path. The branches have remarkable strength—pulling one from a fence or house wall by hand is virtually impossible. One-year-old grape vines are green, thin, and flexible. With age, the vines become woody, and the bark takes on a golden hue. In summer, each vine densely develops large, palmate foliage. These can have three, five, or seven fingers. They grow on long petioles. In warmer months, the leaves are dark green. Some varieties have glossy leaves, while others have a matte, rough texture. By autumn, the leaves turn yellow, red, and purple.

The vine blooms in late June and continues until mid-August. The inflorescences are small and unremarkable, difficult to spot against the large, star-shaped leaves. In early autumn, the flowers give way to pea-shaped fruits.

The plant's fruits are small, round berries, no more than 8 millimeters in diameter. The fruits are borne on branches in small clusters of 10-12. The berries' seeds can be used for seed propagation. The skin is thick and dense. Depending on the variety, the berries can be red, blue, burgundy, or purple. When ripe, the fruit's color is always consistent—dark blue, almost black, with a slight matte whitish coating. The fruits are unfit for human consumption because they contain large amounts of oxalic acid, which imparts a bitter and sour taste. Furthermore, the berries can cause serious poisoning.

Varieties of maiden grapes

The genus of maiden grapes includes two major plant groups: Asian and North American. The Asian grapes include:

• five-leafed;
• trifoliate;
• single-leafed.

To North American:

• seven-leafed;
• five-leafed.

These groups include several different varieties, each differing in leaf shape and size, vine length, and growing conditions. Three types of grapes are known in Russia: "Five-Leafed," "Three-Strung," and "Attached." These are the most widely used in landscaping.

Five-leaf (Hungarian)

This grapevine is widespread in eastern and central North America. Five-leaf grapevine is a fast-growing vine that can reach 20 meters in length. Branches grow 2-2.5 meters per year. The shoots cling to a variety of surfaces with branched tendrils terminating in a sticky sucker. The leaf blade is pubescent, consisting of a cluster of five dark green, ovate leaflets. The leaf edges are pointed and serrated. The underside of the leaf is light green with a silvery sheen. The grapevine produces small, greenish flowers, gathered in loose inflorescences until late autumn.

In Russia, it is popular due to its shade and frost tolerance. Even in central regions, it overwinters without cover.

Best varieties:

1. Engelmannii
2. Murorum.
3. Troki.
4. Yellow Wall.

Tricuspid (ivy-shaped)

This grape variety is native to China. It is especially popular in Korea, Japan, and China. This Far Eastern vine grows up to 15-20 meters in length. The leaves are three-fingered (although fingerless varieties are also available), up to 20 centimeters in diameter, and have large, pointed teeth. The color is dark green and glossy. The tendrils of the shoots are equipped with rounded, flattened extensions that provide traction. The growing season lasts approximately 155 days. Flowering lasts about a month, from mid-June to early July. This grape prefers fertile soil, a warm climate, and long periods of sunlight. It is frost-intolerant.

There are three varieties of ivy grapes:

• Viche grape. This plant grows small, glossy leaves that turn orange in the fall. It's the most common variety.
• A golden variety. Its green foliage with yellow veins gives the plant its unique character.
• A purple variety. In autumn, the foliage turns various shades of burgundy and red.

Attached maiden grapes

The vine is widely used in landscaping in North America. The plant is not particularly tall, with vines reaching just 4 meters in length. The leaf blade is divided into 5 or 3 clearly defined sections called lobes. The vine prefers a warm, temperate climate, so it is recommended to cover it for the winter.

Peculiarities of grape growing

Wild ivy easily establishes itself at any time of year, so young grapevine seedlings can be planted in both spring and fall. Grapes thrive in sunny areas but also thrive in shady locations, although in these conditions, the leaves tend to be small and light-colored. They thrive in close proximity to tall shrubs and trees. When planning a grapevine, keep in mind that the shoots have tremendous growth force. Growing quickly, they can climb over a fence and begin to invade neighboring land. The stems can entwine other plants and household items. However, once on the ground, the branches quickly root, leading to a sprawling shrub.

The soil composition of wild grapes is not particularly important. It can be sandy or loamy, poor in fertilizer, or heavy, acidic. However, the vine grows best in light, fertile soil. Before planting, it is preferable to amend the soil with compost or humus, ash, sand, and superphosphate. In such loose, lightweight soil, the plants take root and begin to grow faster. Grapes are planted in deep holes, the bottom of which is lined with drainage. A strong support is installed next to the seedling, to which the plant is tied immediately after planting. For vertical gardening, seedlings are spaced one meter apart, and the distance from the wall is 60 centimeters. After planting, the seedlings are watered, and then the soil is mulched.

Caring for grapes

Virginia creeper doesn't require any special cultivation techniques. All it needs to thrive is regular watering, timely fertilizing, and annual pruning.

The plant requires a lot of water to maintain its dense, green crown. However, it doesn't like overwatering. Over the summer, it's enough to water the vine three to four times using a sprinkler. Apply up to 10 liters of water at the base. If the summer is rainy, the shrub doesn't need watering at all.

Watering is combined with fertilizing. If the soil was well fertilized in the year of planting, the first fertilization should be done only in the second or third year. Otherwise, fertilizing should be done in the year of planting. The plant requires a lot of nitrogen to grow green mass. This is applied in the spring. Organic fertilizers can be used, or urea and ammonium nitrate can be added. Add 40-50 grams of nitrophoska to the soil. Grapes are best fed with a complex mineral fertilizer, such as Kemira Universal. Potassium fertilizer is added in the fall to help the plant survive the winter better. Sprinkling the area around the trunk with ash or using potassium magnesium sulfate is sufficient.

To maintain a neat appearance, the vine requires formative pruning. This type of pruning begins in the first year of the plant's life. Young shoots are secured to a support and then trained in the desired direction. In early spring, after the snow melts, sanitary pruning is performed, removing damaged, frost-bitten, old, and excess branches, as well as those growing in the wrong direction. Pruning can be performed every two years. In this case, long shoots are first shortened, and only then are all neglected branches removed.

Most varieties of maiden grapes are frost-hardy, so they don't need to be covered for the winter. Sprinkling the base of the bush with spruce branches or straw will suffice. However, it's still recommended to cover young, recently planted vines with a non-woven covering material, such as plastic film, during the cold season.

Reproduction

Virginia creeper can be propagated by cuttings, layering, and seeds. The easiest way to obtain a new cultivar is by cuttings. Cuttings can be planted in spring or fall. For fall planting, cuttings are prepared in spring or early summer. Small branches (20 centimeters long) with buds and leaves are used as cuttings. Before planting, remove tendrils, side shoots, and leaves from the cuttings. Place the cut branches in a container of water until roots form. The cuttings are then transplanted into a soil mixture consisting of sand and soil. By fall, the rooted branches are planted in open ground. Each seedling is placed in a planting hole so that the root collar is exposed after being covered with soil. The distance between future plants should be at least 50 centimeters. Wild grapes grow well in any soil, but for best results, it's best to add organic and mineral fertilizers during tilling, lighten heavy clay soil with peat and drainage, and add humus to sandy soil. Rooted seedlings are planted in September.

You can also propagate maiden grapes by layering. To do this, dig a long, shallow trench next to the plant in the spring. Place a two-year-old shoot into this trench and cover it with soil. The end of the branch should remain above ground level. To prevent the buried branch from popping out, pin it down with metal staples. Over the summer, roots will form where the buds once formed. When this happens, the branch should be cut from the mother plant and replanted in another area.

The least popular method of propagation is seed propagation. This is due to the lengthy process, as it takes several years to produce a mature plant. Seeds collected in the summer are planted the following spring. Before sowing, the planting material must be stratified, meaning the seeds are kept in a moist sandy substrate at a temperature of 5°C (41°F) for 1-1.5 months. The seeds are then sown in a nursery, where they will germinate in 30-35 days.

Diseases and pests

Virginia creeper is rarely affected by infections or harmful insects. Diseases such as spotted anthracnose and powdery mildew are unaffected, as the plant has exceptional immunity. Among pests, aphids can sometimes be seen on the leaves. When they appear, water the plant with a soapy water solution, then spray the entire area with biological products such as Fitoverm or Fufanon.

Use in landscape design

Virginia creeper is often used as a key garden decoration element. This long, large vine can not only adorn a front arch or porch, but also camouflage an unsightly house wall, a sagging fence, or a dilapidated gazebo. Its fast-growing shoots create a dense, dark green carpet of perfectly shaped leaves arranged symmetrically. Although the plant's appearance is far from unique, as it doesn't produce beautiful, fragrant flowers, it does have a unique charm: in autumn, when all other garden trees and shrubs shed their leaves, the grape's foliage turns every shade of red, yellow, and green. This blend of colors lends the garden a unique, enchanting atmosphere. Combined with its lush habit, low maintenance, frost resistance, and the ability to self-attach its shoots to surfaces, this vine surpasses all other vines.

Grapes can easily grow near roads, as they tolerate pollution and poor air quality. They also retain their attractive foliage near a shed, construction site, or garage. The vine can be grown not only on steep walls but also to form green arches and tunnels, and to decorate front gardens. Grapes can even be grown along the ground—they make a wonderful groundcover. A dense green carpet will look beautiful where flowering shrubs and flowers have failed. Moreover, this plant can even improve soil structure if it's prone to erosion: its numerous tendrils bind the soil together and compact it. Furthermore, undemanding of soil quality, maiden grapes will grow even on rocky slopes or sandstone, in shade or full sun. Shrubs and trees can be planted nearby—they don't compete with other flora, coexisting well with other plants.

Advantages and disadvantages

Wild grapes have many advantages over other vine-like plants. These include:

• decorative effect is preserved for a long time;
• undemanding to soil composition;
• frost resistance;
• rapid growth of shoots;
• strong immunity to diseases and pests;
• good growth both in sunny and shaded areas;
• easy to propagate;
• does not require fertilization.

Despite its extensive track record of benefits, many gardeners prefer to cultivate other vines in their gardens. This is because wild ivy grows very quickly, its numerous branches getting into cracks and causing damage to foundations and roofs. Without regular pruning, the vine can completely envelop the house, windows, and doors, enveloping trees and fences. However, negative consequences can be avoided by promptly pruning the rampant shoots.

Reviews

Michael

I really like wild grapes because they make a beautiful decorative feature. However, they're not easy to grow because they spread very quickly and need to be pruned frequently, otherwise they'll spread across the entire garden. If the hedge or wall you're decorating is small, it's better to plant a less aggressive plant. For example, another grape or a shorter-growing vine. Wild grapes can crush everything—neighboring trees, roofs, and gutters. Their long, heavy vines are destructive, as their suckers penetrate cracks, under roof tiles, and so on. Not every support can support the weight of 10-meter-long branches. Wild grapes are more suitable for large-scale compositions when you want a quick and abundant greenery. In smaller areas, it's better to plant other plants.

Anastasia

This grapevine has been growing at our dacha for about 20 years now. It's completely wrapped around the house with its long vines. Many say the vines damage the roof and other building elements, but our house is brick, and I assure you, the brick definitely doesn't deteriorate. I also know that the sturdy vines reliably protect the walls from dampness and drafts. Unpretentious, fast-growing, and never diseased, the grapevine doesn't present any particular problems. All you need to do is prune the branches regularly.

Conclusion

This grapevine has a rather unflattering reputation: it requires a lot of effort from the gardener to manage such an aggressive plant. If left unchecked, its growth will overtake the entire garden within a couple of years. However, this opinion is quite controversial: maiden grapes can be tamed with careful formative pruning.