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Family: Vitaceae

Deciduous woody perennials of the grape family, climbing by twisting tendrils, hardy in all but the most extreme areas and sometimes semi-evergreen in the South. The slim, finely divided leaves have a delicate shadow and tracery effect, and the unusual chamelionlike berries are a connoisseur’s joy in fall. These vines can grow fast and luxuriantly up to thirty feet, or can be kept within reasonable bounds by yearly thinning, in earliest spring.

Landscaping uses include decoration for all kinds of buildings, fences, walls, and garden structures; glittering accent on pillar or post, or dead tree trunk; and even covering the ground in the South. Only the vigorous growth has kept me from trying one of these vines in an outdoor container.

The ampelopsis will thrive and fruit in any good garden soil, in sun or semisun – even in dry areas, or on rocky banks. Propagation is by ground layering, stem cuttings, or seeds, which are often offered as varieties of vitis.

Ampelopsis aconitifolia – monkshood vine – Lacy, five-parted leaves; inconspicuous flowers; fall berries begin bluish and gradually mature to orange and yellow.

Ampelopsis arborea – pepper vine – Good ground cover for warm, dry places. Glossy, half-evergreen leaves doubly cut and delicate. A fast grower, can cover fifteen feet the first year.

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata – Amur or porcelain ampelopsis, turquoise berry – This, and its variety maximowiczi, have quantities of quarter-inch pea-shaped berries in the most startling color combinations of all. Some start lettuce green and gradually turn to lavender and purple; others begin the same, but go through various shades of aquamarine, turquoise, and steel blue before they finally reach a deep ultramarine. All colors can appear on one vine, even in one cluster of berries, at the same time. Leaves are large and fresh green. A variety, elegans, has smaller leaves variegated with pink-tinged white when young.

Ampelopsis cordata – heart-leaf ampelopsis – Tall and tough, with large leaves and clear-blue berries.

Ampelopsis humulifolia – hop ampelopsis – Grape-shaped leaves shining white underneath; less plenteous fruits yellow to blue.