Racoon Grape

Racoon Grape, Possum Grape

Ampelopsis cordata Michx.

Vitaceae (Grape Family)

▲ vine on fence

▲ flowers

▲ ▼ stems with tendrils

Wild Grape: (not in Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 352-353, Weeds of the Northeast)

woody, simple perennial vine that climbs by use of tendrils
develops large, woody/tuberous root system that can be difficult to kill, even with systemic herbicides
climbs over fences, shrubs, trees, shading and sometimes killing covered plants
two main “weedy" genera here:
- racoon grape, possum grape, false grape (Ampelopsis spp.):
  - has ovate to heart-shaped leaves with serrated margins
  - leaves are light green and glossy (not hairy)
  - fruit is white to bluish white and purple
- river grape, fox grape (Vitis spp.):
  - has palmately lobed leaves
  - leaves light-green to gray-green and somewhat hairy, at least on veins on underside
  - can develop large trunk with stringy, peeling brown bark
  - more closely related to commercial grapes