Peppervine

Peppervine, Pepper Vine

Ampelopsis arborea

Vitaceae (Grape Family)

▲ ▼ new foliage showing reddish color

▲ ▼ stem with tiny flower cluster

▲ vine growing along edge of road

Ampelopsis arborea: Peppervine or Pepper Vine

Location near campus: inside south fence of Japanese Stroll Garden at the Botanical Center in Springfield, MO

has alternate, bipinnately compound leaves that are glossy-red when they emerge, turning medium to dark green; leaves are 4-8" long and about 2/3 as wide, with 1/2 to 1 1/4 inc long leafleaflets with toothed margins
vines can grow 20-30 feet long/tall and more; climbs by clasping tendrils located opposite leaves at nodes
has axillary clusters (panicles) of tiny white flowers in late spring
fruit is a 1/3 inch diameter purple berry, edible to wildlife
very rampant growth, almost considered a weed in southeastern U.S.
native to Missouri and southeastern U.S.