Vitis cordifolia
| Vitis cordifolia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 66' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Vitis cordifolia (common name: frost grape)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[K]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings.
Layering.
Cultivation: Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[1][2]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[2], doing well when lime rubble is incorporated into the soil[3]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[2].
The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A very vigorous plant[2], climbing by means of tendrils[4]. It grows particularly well into elm trees[5].
The flowers are sweetly scented[3].
Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[4][2].
This species is often confused with V. vulpina[4].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[2].
Range: Southern and Eastern N. America - New York to Florida. Locally naturalized in Europe[6].
Habitat: River banks, bottom lands and rich thickets[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for winter use[1][8][9]. They are said to be unpalatable until they have been touched by frost[1][10][7][4][2]. A spicy flavour[11]. Quite tasty[12]. The fruit is about 8 - 12mm in diameter[2] and is produced in fairly large bunches[13].
Leaves - cooked[14]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour.
Young tendrils - raw or cooked[14][15].
The twigs are a tea substitute[9].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[16].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: V. vulpina. pro parte.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
- ↑ Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.