Thicket/ Fox-Grape

COMMON NAME: Fox Grape

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vitis labrusca

FAMILY: Vitaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Native   

LIFESPAN: Woody Vine

HEIGHT: High climbing, wild vine

FLOWERING TIME: Late May to July

FRUITING TIME: Early September to October

DISTRIBUTION: Maine to Georgia, west to Michigan ~ Statewide outside the central pine barrens in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: High-climbing vine with twining tendrils ~ Stems brown, peeling into thin strips, stout, often hanging free from tree canopy to ground ~ Tendrils or flowers in 3 or more consecutive nodes, flowers greenish ~ Leaves simple, large, 3-lobed, roughly maple-like ~ Flowers and fruit in elongated nodal clusters ~ Fruit dark red to nearly black, sweetish

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Vitaceae family is commonly called the Vine Family and plants in the Vitis genus are grapes.  The species name, labrusca is an early Latin name for “wild vine”. Fox grape is found in rich, usually wet ground of edges, rocky woods, stream sides, and roadsides. This plant is a common invasive weedy, woody vine. It is similar to Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis), Riverback Grape (Vitis riparia), and Frost Grape (Vitis vulpine). Wild grapes can be used in any recipe that includes grapes; generally, they need more sweetening than cultivated grapes.  Wild grapes are used to make jelly. Before fully ripe, the fruit are an excellent source of pectin. The juice of wild grapes can be used as a cold drink alone or with other juices.  The young leaves can be boiled for 10-15 minutes and served with butter, or they can be lightly boiled and used to wrap rice or meat for baking.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.