Grape Identification - Ask Extension
I have 3 different types of grapes growing in my yard. Can you tell me or direct me to how I can identify them? I have attached photos of the leaves...
Knowledgebase
Grape Identification #423362
Asked August 25, 2017, 12:33 PM EDT
I have 3 different types of grapes growing in my yard. Can you tell me or direct me to how I can identify them? I have attached photos of the leaves which are numbered: #1 has large purple berries, #2 medium sized green berries, #3 small dark blue berries.
Thank you so much.
Cecelia Hoffman
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Grape leaf shape varies greatly, even on a single vine so we can't identify the species by viewing photos of the leaves.
Grape vines planted and grown for their fruit are usually hybrids so the species can not be determined either by leaf shape or the other characteristics you mentioned.
If the vines are native Minnesota grapes, they are either Vitis aestivalis or Vitis riparia.
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/search?kw=vitis
However, please note that in Minnesota, records of the former are restricted to a few southeastern counties.
In summary, this means that, despite differing leaf shapes and other characteristics, all three vines could be the same species--Vitis riparia.
Grape vines planted and grown for their fruit are usually hybrids so the species can not be determined either by leaf shape or the other characteristics you mentioned.
If the vines are native Minnesota grapes, they are either Vitis aestivalis or Vitis riparia.
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/search?kw=vitis
However, please note that in Minnesota, records of the former are restricted to a few southeastern counties.
In summary, this means that, despite differing leaf shapes and other characteristics, all three vines could be the same species--Vitis riparia.
Thank you. Grapes are a much more complicated creature than I thought.
