Vine

Vine (Vitis) - Woody climbing shrubs of much interest and garden value, owing to their grace and handsome foliage, which affords the richest of colors—yellows, purples, and crimsons. Whilst some are valuable for the walls of houses, others may be used for covering arbours, pergolas, the pillars of verandahs, old tree stumps, or sloping banks. In the case of the stronger, taller-growing species they may be made to clamber over living trees. Where space is limited they can be kept small by pruning, but the best effects are obtained where they can ramble without hindrance. Most kinds can be increased by cuttings or by single "eyes" treated as in the Grape Vine, though some can only be raised by seeds. Those that refuse to root from cuttings can sometimes be layered. Graftings should be a last resource. It is worth noting that some of the early kinds of European Vine ripen well in some of our warm valleys, all the more so if pruned and trained as in France, but even without that they sometimes fruit very well. Vines of the north of France, such as Le Chasselas, de Fontainebleau and La Madeleine, may be tried for this with any others.

In the following list Ampelopsis and Cissus are merged in Vitis.

Vine Pictures

Agrostis hyemalis (Walt.) B.S.P. - winter bentgrass

Agrostis idahoensis Nash - Idaho bentgrass

Agrostis mertensii Trin. - northern bentgrass

Iris hartwegii Baker - rainbow iris

Iris hartwegii Baker - rainbow iris

Iris macrosiphon Torr. - bowltube iris

Related Flowers

Summer Grape

Summer Grape (Vitis Aestivalis) - The leaves are 4 to 6 inches across, a deep green color when old, but in a young state covered on the lower surface with a reddish down. The berries are small—about the size of black currants—acid but edible. New England to Florida and westwards.

Vitis Armata

Vitis Armata - Noble Vine from C. China, with large heart-shaped or nearly triangular bronze-green leaves set upon spiny stems, by means of which the plant climbs. In autumn the foliage assumes fine tints of crimson-purple and yellow, and it reaches a height of 10 or more feet in three years from the seed.

Californian Vitis

Californian Vitis (Vitis Californica) - This is the best of the American Grape Vines (excluding the Ampelopsis section) for color in autumn, and it is one of the strongest growers, climbing over lofty trees. Its leaves, which turn a deep crimson in autumn, are rounded and covered with down.

Crimson Glory Vitis

Crimson Glory Vitis (Vitis Coignetiae) - A noble hardy Vine from the mountain forests of the Island of Yezzo, N. Japan, where it covers the trees from base to summit with a gorgeous mantle in autumn. It comes near V. Labrusca in general appearance, but is more vigorous, graving at a great pace when fairly established, and displaying a profusion of leathery dark-green leaves with several lobe-like points, and coated beneath with a thick felt-like down which varies in color from rusty-brown to yellow or nearly white. Their autumn tinting is beautiful, especially in a dry season and when the plant is not overfed. Increase by seed or layers.

Frost Grape

Frost Grape (Vitis Cordifolia) - A vigorous Vine with thin, three-lobed leaves, measuring 3 to 6 inches in diameter, the lobes ending in a long, fine point. The berries are black and only eatable after frost. A moisture-loving Vine, affecting in a wild state the banks of streams. New England to Nebraska and southwards.

Vitis Flexuosa

Vitis Flexuosa - A variable species from China and Japan, with small rounded leaves, toothed at the edges, and a velvet surface, remaining fresh till late in November. Among its many forms is major, with much larger dark green leaves, either simple or three-lobed. The early leaves and shoots are a pretty pale crimson, and before falling in autumn the foliage turns purple and blood-red.

Vitis Henryana

Vitis Henryana - Discovered in China by Dr Henry, and one of the most beautiful of Vines. The deep green leaves are cut into five leaflets, threaded by silvery ribs and veins, the effect being particularly rich in autumn when they turn a deep crimson-purple. Though less vigorous than most wild Vines, it is one of the most graceful and distinct of the group, and its stems cling to the wall without nailing.

Hop-leaved Vitis

Hop-leaved Vitis (Vitis Heterophylla) - A variety of this, known as humulifolia, is the most beautiful of the forms of this species, and in autumn bears pretty turquoise-blue berries. It requires in most places a position on a wall in order to induce it to fruit with freedom, and succeeds better in dry, poor soil. A variegated form is pretty, the foliage being mottled with white or faint pink. A sheltered sunny position is necessary to bring it to perfection. China, Japan, and Corea.

Vitis Inconstans

Vitis Inconstans - As with so many of the Vines, this shows great variety in the shape of the leaves, and this tendency shows itself also in the colors put on in autumn. In the best forms the leaves assume rich tints of purplish red red and crimson. There is also a form with foliage a bronzy hue more or less throughout the season, but especially when young. Cuttings. Japan. Syns., Ampelopsis Veitchi and A. tricuspidata.

Northern Fox G.

Northern Fox G. (Vitis Labrusca) - Its leaves are amongst the largest, they and the young branchlets being covered on the under surface with a rusty-colored or sometimes whitish down. In a wild state the fruit has a musky flavor, but by cultivation it has been much improved, and numerous varieties are grown in the United States. It often ascends high trees in its own country, and may be planted in ours with this end in view. New England to Minnesota and southwards.

Vitis Megaphylla

Vitis Megaphylla - A remarkable Chinese Vine with large cleft leaves, more like a shrubby Aralia than a Vine. They are cut into many widely-spread leaflets, measure 18 by 12 inches at the base, their upper, surface a dark green changing to grey-green on the under side. This handsome plant is of very strong growth, quite young plants making shoots of 10 feet or more in a season.

Vitis Muralis

Vitis Muralis - all V.)—A name current in this country and on the Continent. Known in America as Vitis Englemanni. It is a distinct form of the Virginian Creeper, possessing leaves of the same shape, only smaller and developing equally, or even more, brilliant autumnal colors. It is self-supporting, and will attach itself firmly and climb to the tops of high walls—a useful quality.

Virginian Creeper

Virginian Creeper (Vitis Quinquefolia) - Better known as Ampelopsis quinquefolia, its foliage changes in the fall of the year to various shades of crimson, scarlet, and purple. For covering arbours, walls, verandahs, or old tree stumps there is no climber which produces so brilliant an effect in so short a time. Several varieties are in cultivation, viz., Major, incisa, hirsuta.

Vitis Romaneti

Vitis Romaneti - Has large leaves, differing from all the Vines in cultivation (except Spinovitis Davidi) in having the branches and petioles covered with bristles or stout hairs.

Vitis Sinessis

Vitis Sinessis - Allied to V. armata, but differs from it in its variable leaves, which, at first simple, pass gradually to the compound form as the shoots lengthen. It is a tall vigorous climber of massive effect, with foliage thickly clustered.