Sweet Mountain Grape

A climbing vine growing in soils underlain with limestone. Similar to the Spanish Grape (Vitis cinerea var. helleri) but with smaller leaves and shorter flower clusters. Leaf blades as broad as long, up to 4 inches in either direction, but usually less, roughly triangular to broadly heart shaped. Flowers in typically forked clusters up to 3 inches long, blossoming in May and June. Grapes up to 1/2 inch in diameter, in compact bunches, ripening in August and September, sweet tasting. Commonly black when completely ripe. But also reddish forms.