Wild grapes: characteristics and description of the variety, planting and care

Country house owners strive to make their property as beautiful as possible by using a variety of flowering shrubs and vines to decorate their gardens.

A good option might be wild grapes, a lush vine that, two to three years after planting, will cover even the most unsightly wall or old, unsightly fence.

Description and characteristics

Wild grapevines are very rare in garden plots. Gardeners consider them to be vigorous growers, as their roots are difficult to eradicate. Furthermore, the fear that mice or rats will infest the lush foliage of the plant's root zone discourages many from planting this vine. However, beyond its aggressive qualities, the plant has many advantages. With proper care, this unpretentious vine can be a beautiful addition to any garden.

Virginia creeper is a perennial vine that can withstand temperatures down to -45°C (-45°F) without shelter. It doesn't require abundant watering even during the most severe droughts. It reproduces by all parts of the vegetative mass and by seeds. It reaches a height of 5 m to 30 m. The foliage is white-green or deep emerald in summer, turning a cherry-red with the onset of the first frosts. By early September, the vine produces numerous clusters of small blue-purple berries, which are a favorite snack for waxwings and linnets.

As grapevine shoots grow, they use adventitious prop roots that grow downward from the stem and cling to even the smallest protrusions. At the tips of these sucker roots are stomata through which the plant secretes a substance called viscin. This substance allows the vine to attach itself to even the flattest surface.

Wild grapes planted in a summer cottage will not only provide natural décor, but will also protect buildings from getting wet—raindrops will run off the leaves, keeping the walls dry. Furthermore, fences planted with vines will protect the owners from excessive noise, dust, and prying eyes. Planted alongside the walls of a multi-story building, grapes will provide residents with protection from the scorching summer sun.

Beneficial properties

The taste of wild grapes is unpleasant, so they are not eaten. Only house sparrows, blackbirds, and mynas enjoy them during winter thaws. However, in pharmacology, the product is successfully used to treat tumors and inflamed blood vessels. Young branches of the plant contain:

• the herbal antibiotic resveratrol, which reduces inflammation and the risk of developing malignant tumors in the body;
• natural styrene, which lowers the level of harmful cholesterol and lipids;
• saturated hydrocarbon heptacosane, which improves the functioning of the central nervous system;
• Omega-3 lipids, which neutralize free radicals in the human body, improve heart rate and vascular health, and normalize blood viscosity and blood pressure.

Wild grape varieties for planting on a plot

Originators in England, where this plant is highly revered, work every year to develop new varieties of wild grapes. But the most widespread are the ancient varieties brought to the continent from the coasts of North America and Japan.

Thomson

An American variety growing up to 3.5 m tall, it can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius without shelter. Older stems have grayish-yellow bark, while younger stems are green. After the first frost, the plant's typically green, oval-shaped, palmately compound foliage takes on a light plum hue. Vertical support is required for good growth.

Amur breakthrough

The most frost-hardy variety, native to Eastern Russia, can withstand temperatures down to -50 degrees Celsius without shelter. Discovered by botanists about 60 years ago, it became the basis for the development of new wild grape varieties and hybrids. It has rich green leaves that turn orange-red in mid-September. By early autumn, the bush bears clusters of small, black-purple berries, which make for an unusual, beautiful decoration.

Virginia

A vigorous shrub, reaching up to 40 meters in height thanks to adventitious rootlets containing a sticky substance. It is characterized by vigorous shoot growth and frost resistance down to -35 degrees Celsius without additional shelter. In a single season, side shoots grow 3-4 meters. The foliage resembles chestnut leaves and has a pointed, oblong shape. During the summer months, this vine-like shrub forms a tall, bright green wall, which turns cherry red by mid-September. It thrives in both sunny and shaded areas.

Henry

A miniature wild grape variety, reaching a height of only 2-2.5 m. Unprotected, it can withstand temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius, making it a popular container or pot plant. Plants grown in pots thrive on balconies and are brought indoors when frost sets in. It has decorative, rounded, palmately compound foliage of a light green with whitish veins, which turns purple in autumn.

Star Showers

An ornamental variety that is frost-hardy to -28°C (-28°F). It grows up to 20 meters tall, clinging to supports with adventitious rootlets on the stem. It has small, light green leaves with white spots of varying shapes and sizes. After prolonged frosts, the foliage turns lilac-red. Its unique natural veiling makes it a very striking plant.

Viche

A vigorous vine-like shrub that reaches 25 meters in height. It can withstand temperatures down to -38 degrees Celsius without additional shelter. This variety has bright green, glossy, dense leaves that turn yellow-orange in mid-September. After the first frost, the yellow foliage of Viche takes on a crimson-purple hue.

Parthenocissus pilosus

A grape variety that isn't particularly winter-hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F) without additional cover. It grows wild in Japan and the southwest of Primorsky Krai. This vine retains its decorative appeal throughout the season. It has dense, glossy, three-lobed leaves with a soft, bright green pubescence. In early autumn, the foliage turns orange-red.

Planting dates

This ornamental vine requires little care and grows well in both shaded areas and full sun. The only difference between plants planted in different locations is the foliage color. In sunny locations, exposure to ultraviolet light during the autumn months will enhance the coloring pigments carotene and xanthophyll. Therefore, from early September, the leaves turn from golden-orange to crimson-purple. In the shade, however, the leaves contain more chlorophyll, which gives them their green color.

Grapes can be planted from early spring to late fall; the plants will thrive at any point during the growing season. However, gardeners recommend planting in mid-September. Young plants planted in early fall will root well before the onset of frost, and the scorching rays of May sun will not harm the seedlings during spring planting.

Planting methods

There are several ways to propagate this tall, climbing perennial, and even beginners won't have any trouble with its reproductive system.

Cuttings and layering

In early spring, the Maiden grapes provide good material for cuttings.

To do this:

• in mid-March, you need to select undamaged one-year-old branches with a thickness of 0.8 cm-1.5 cm;
• cut pieces of 20cm-35cm in length from the branches with 3-5 buds;
• Fill the prepared containers with nutrient soil, water with the addition of activated carbon powder;
• plant the cuttings in the spilled soil, leaving the top bud, at an angle of 45 degrees, compact the soil;
• Place the containers on a windowsill and water them daily with warm water with activated carbon added until the cuttings take root, which should occur in 35-45 days;
• after rooting, reduce watering by half;
• transplant the cutting with the root system to a permanent location in open ground.

Seeds

Wild grapes are usually propagated from seed only in nurseries. Since growing the plant at home is difficult, the vine's seeds require stratification, and the seedling yield is only 8%-10%. However, with patience, it is possible to grow grapes from seed at home.

To do this you need:

• prepare a saucer or a small plate, a piece of gauze;
• pour water into the container on the material, in which you have diluted any growth stimulator;
• Place the prepared wild grape seeds on top of the soaked gauze;
• Place the material on the top shelf of the refrigerator and let it sit for 10 days. Make sure the water in the plate doesn't evaporate and add more regularly.
• After stratification, place the saucer in a warm place for 5 days, and then back in the refrigerator for 7-10 days;
• After 25 days, plant the hatched seeds at a depth of 1 cm in prepared nutrient soil;
• regularly water the sprouted seedlings with warm water with the addition of a growth stimulator;
• Young seedlings should be planted in open ground in the last ten days of May after the last night frosts have passed.

Propagation of wild grapes by root suckers

The shoots that grow at the base of the grapevine can also serve as good material for propagating the plant.

To do this you need:

• in the first days of April, shoots at least 60 cm high should be bent to the ground using strong wire or split wood chips;
• mulch the pressing area with grass or straw;
• water the future bush daily, preventing the soil from drying out;
• At the end of September, carefully separate the bent branch from the mother bush and transplant it to a new location.

Post-planting care

Further care for young seedlings is not difficult, as the plant is easy to maintain and disease-resistant. However, if the vertical surface where the vine will grow is flat and smooth, it's a good idea to provide additional support for the young seedling. Once the vine has established itself, it will be able to climb the wall without assistance. Throughout the season, after planting, perform the following:

• watering once a week;
• two feedings with complex fertilizer during the summer;
• mulching the soil under the seedling;
• pruning a strongly overgrown vine.

Wild grapes in landscape design

With the help of this low-maintenance vine and a sturdy support, you can create a stunning plant composition in your garden. Once you see a beautiful hedge, you'll immediately want to plant it to decorate unsightly walls or crooked fences. It's also inexpensive and safe. Even the most rotten trees can be adorned with a vibrant, colorful blanket. Wild grapes can be used in garden design for:

• in the bonsai style, by growing a miniature copy of a tree, placing a flowerpot with miniature maiden grapes at the entrance to the house or near the gazebo;
• by planting the plant near ruined and unsightly barns, which, after being entwined with grapes, will look like large green and red bushes;
• By planting grapes near metal woven mesh that serves as a fence, the living wall will protect the owners from prying eyes;
• decorate a loggia or balcony by planting a plant in a large container;
• creating unique living arched structures at the entrance to the courtyard;
• By planting ten wild grape seedlings around the perimeter of the house, you can create an original house entwined with lush foliage.

Reviews

Summer residents who have planted wild grapes on their plots share their impressions.

Gennady, Kiev.

Four years ago, my wife and I bought a dacha. However, we had bad luck with our neighbor—she was very nosy. She was constantly trying to peek through our fence. That's when we decided to plant wild grapes along the entire length of the fence. Three years later, the plants have transformed into a green wall, impenetrable to prying eyes.

Karina, s. Casaclia, Moldova.

My grandparents left my brother and me a small house, which needed a huge amount of money to restore. We had dilapidated sheds and a ramshackle little house, and we didn't know what to do with it, as both my brother and I were constantly working. A friend suggested planting wild grapes around it. Three years later, our "inheritance" was unrecognizable. The dilapidated buildings had been transformed into fairytale-like living houses.

Wild grapes, unlike cultivated ones, are unpretentious and easy to grow, and can serve as a good protector from wind, rain, and sun.