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Fall 2021

Roger's Red California Wild Grape

Photo: Creative Commons
Photo: Creative Commons
(Vitis californica 'Roger's Red')

California's native grape is a woody, vigorous, deciduous vine that grows 15 to 30 feet tall and wide. It has large, round, green leaves and a sprawling, climbing growth habit. The leaves turn spectacular shades of crimson and deep red in fall. It grows naturally along streams and seeps in central and northern California.


Photo: PlantMaster
Photo: PlantMaster
The native grape is an excellent choice for covering fences, trellises, and arbors. It also can be used as a large-scale groundcover. Its spring flowers are small, fragrant, white and loved by bees. In summer, it forms small, seedy berry clusters that are decorative and loved by birds.

This is an adaptable vine that thrives in full sun to light shade with regular to moderate water. However, it is drought tolerant and typically grows less aggressively in dry conditions. It is an excellent habitat plant.