Is Wild Grape a Weed?

What is a Weed?

• Most guidelines for determining if a plant is a weed require a degree of subjectivity. According to the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, a weed is "a plant out of place not intentionally sown, whose undesirable qualities outweigh its good points." Brad Bergefurd, Extension Specialist at Ohio State University, defines a weed as "a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth." Rampant growth is considered a negative quality if the plant in question harms more desirable plants in the process. If the plant is desired by the gardener, however, quick growth may be considered beneficial. The element of subjective interpretation certainly plays a part when determining whether or not wild grape is a weed.

Growth Habits

• Wild grape is a perennial vine with woody stems that can reach a length of 50 feet. The seeds are often distributed by birds that have eaten the grapes and they can remain dormant for several years before germinating. Tendrils allow the vine to sprawl across fences and shrubs or climb upward to the tops of trees. When no supporting plants are available, wild grape readily spreads along the ground. The growth is so prolific that wild grapevines can damage or even kill the plants that support them by weighing them down, blocking light or competing for nutrients.

Identification

• While shaggy bark covers the older woody stems, wild grape also displays nonwoody stems in shades of green or red. The heart-shape leaves are large, growing as long as 9 inches. They alternate along the stem and display toothed edges. Across from each leaf is a forked tendril. The fragrant blossoms, which appear from May to July, are white or yellow with greenish overtones. The flowers develop into clusters of dark blue berries from 1/8 in.to 1 in. across. The fruit ripens between July and October. Wild grape is sometimes confused with Virginia creeper, wild cucumber, poison ivy and kudzu.

Control

• When wild grapes grow in a location or manner that earns them the "invasive weed" label, they can be controlled with herbicides. Because the products that are effective in eradicating wild grape also kill other plants in the vicinity, they must be used carefully. For grapevines growing in a forested area, simply cutting through the main vine 1 or 2 feet above the ground is an effective means of control. Because grape sprouts require sunlight for growth, they will die under the shady canopy. Severing the vine isn't effective if the new sprouts have access to sunlight.