Description I first noticed this vine growing in the hedgerow here a few years ago but didn’t give it much thought until I saw the clusters of fruit this fall. I’ve identified it as frost grape (Vitis vulpina), based on its mostly heart-shaped, toothed leaves. Like other grapes, it’s a large, vigorous, woody vine, possibly climbing up to about 50 feet in the wild, though you could of course prune it to keep it smaller if you want to grow it in a garden setting. The summer panicles (branching clusters) of yellow-green flowers mature into the usual edible fruits: small and rounded, with deep purple to near-black skin. They’re a bit sour to my taste but supposedly get sweeter after being touched by frost. The plants are valuable for various sorts of wildlife: the flowers provide pollen for bees and bumblebees, and a wide variety of insects (including the larvae of several native moths) feed on the foliage. Birds feed on those insects, and on the fruit as well; the latter supports other critters too. This species is sometimes called fox grape—which makes sense, based on the specific epithet vulpina—but “fox grape” may also be used for V. labrusca. The species is native to much of central and eastern United States; these seeds are from a plant that grow wild here in Bucks County, PA. Full sun to shade. Zones 5 to 9. Collected in October 2025. At least 15 cleaned seeds. PA ecotype. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
