Question

grape?   QUESTION: this is a picture of a plant found in my yard that I have moved to a trellis thinking it was a wild grape.  It blossoms but no fruit seems to happen. It grows rampantly and has tendrils.I t has been on this trellis for 2 years.I cut it back to a 2 main branches each year.


ampelopsis   ANSWER: Hi Pat,

Your picture is very, very blurry when I open it.  However, it could very well be a wild grape.  The blossoms on wild grape(Vitis) species are greenish and indistinct - most people wouldn't even notice them unless they were searching for them - and except for Muscadine, are in clusters.  If it does turn out to be a wild grape, I would not cut it back every year, as grapes make on 2nd year growth.  There is only one vine I think you can easily confuse with a wild grape, and that is Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis).  I'm attaching a picture of that.  If you can send me another, clearer picture or two, I'd love it. I have an entire book dedicated to just grape leaves, and this might be my only chance to use it.  Also give me the area where you live.  Lots of wild grape species make good jelly.  I use the leaves of Opossum Grape to make Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).

Thanks,
Susan  

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the flower  

grape?   QUESTION: Thanks Susan, I opened the wrong picture for you.  I am sending two others.  We live in central florids, just south of Disney.

Answer

muscadine flowers   Hi Pat,

It's definitely a Vitis sp. - I think Rotundifolia - Muscadine.  Unlike other grapes, which are wind pollinated,some Muscadines require insects. If you use pesticides, or have a more attractive source of pollen/nectar nearby, adverse weather conditions, or anything else that effects pollinating insects will cause fruit absence.  Wild Muscadine can also be dioecious - separate male and female plants.  I'm attaching a photo of male, female, and perfect flowers for you to compare.  The fully opened flowers in your photo appear to be male.  It could be that you will need to get a couple more plants to insure fruiting.  
Thanks so much for your question.
Susan