# Summer Grape (*vitis aestivalis*)

Summer Grapes are sweet and juicy fruits that grow on vines. They are perfect for making yummy snacks and are often enjoyed in the summer sun!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Summer Grapes thrive in warm, sunny areas, often found in gardens and vineyards.
- **Also known as:** American Grape, Vine Grape, Wild Grape

![Summer Grape](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vitis_aestivalis_%28USDA%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vitis_aestivalis_%28USDA%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Summer Grape is a vigorous woody vine with large, deeply lobed leaves that often have fuzzy undersides, sometimes with a reddish hue. Its inconspicuous green flowers mature into clusters of dark purple to black berries, typically covered in a powdery white bloom, making them distinct from other wild grapes.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Vitales
- **Family:** Vitaceae
- **Genus:** Vitis

## Interesting facts

- Early American settlers often used these wild grapes for food and natural dyes!
- Its juice can be used to make tasty jelly and even a unique wild wine!
- Some Summer Grape vines can live for over 100 years, growing incredibly thick!
- The fuzzy undersides of its leaves protect it from too much sun and hungry bugs!

## Special abilities

- **Climbing Power:** Summer Grape can use strong, coiling tendrils to grasp onto trees and structures, helping it climb high to reach vital sunlight.
- **Resilient Roots:** Summer Grape has thick, deeply rooted vines that help it tolerate various soil types and survive periods of drought in its habitats.
- **Berry Bonanza:** Summer Grape produces abundant clusters of tart berries, which attract many animals to eat them and spread its seeds widely.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 300-2000 cm
- **Spread:** 100-1000 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring - Early Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats ripe fruit, helping to disperse seeds.
- **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Feeds on abundant grape clusters in late summer.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits small flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Shelter:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — Nests and hides within its dense vine growth.

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Summer Grape?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Summer Grape?

300-2000 cm

### How wide does Summer Grape spread?

100-1000 cm

### How big are the flowers on Summer Grape?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Summer Grape bloom?

Late Spring - Early Summer

### Is Summer Grape edible?

Yes

### Is Summer Grape toxic?

None

### What is Summer Grape's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Long Island Motor Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-motor-parkway) — New York, US · Park
- [Old Fessenden Academy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-fessenden-academy-historic-district) — Florida, US · Campus
- [Lakewood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakewood-park) — Virginia, US · Park

[View all places to see Summer Grape](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/summer-grape)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Summer Grape: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/summer-grape)