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Lytle, Melody
Ampelopsis arborea (L.) Koehne
Peppervine
Vitaceae (Grape Family)
USDA Symbol: AMAR5
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
A deciduous to semi-evergreen vine that can be ground cover-like, but is often high-climbing and bushy. Grows 35 ft. or more. Foliage is bi- or tri-pinnately compound and dark-green, turning pale-yellow in fall. Leaves up to 6 inches or more long and equally wide, with a central axis and 1 to 3 pairs of lateral axes supporting leaflets. Leaflets roughly ovate, coarsely toothed, dark green on the upper surface, lighter on the lower. Flat-topped clusters of tiny, green flowers are followed by clusters of pea-sized, bluish-purple berries. Fruit fleshy, up to 5/8 inch in diameter, black and shiny when ripe, inedible.
Fast-growing and short-lived. The species is particularly aggressive and rampant, considered by many to be a pest. It is seldom cultivated.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: 30-40 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: GreenBloom Time: Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , DC , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WVNative Distribution: FL to e. TX, n. to MD & e. OK; also Miss. R. valley to s. IL & MO
Native Habitat: Swamps; marshes; alluvial woods; stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), PR(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Quite variable. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: It is deciduous to semi-evergreen vine that can be ground cover-like, but is often high-climbing and bushy. Foliage is dark-green, turning pale-yellow in fall. Flat-topped lusters of tiny, green flowers are followed by clusters of pea-sized, bluish-purple berries. It is fast-growing and short lived. Caution: This species is aggressive and rampant, and considered by many to be a pest.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Attractive, Fruits ornamental, Fast growingUse Wildlife: Attracts songbirds and gamebirds. Browse, Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Propagation
Description: Propagate by seed sown in early spring, hardwood cuttings taken in early spring, or layering of runners.Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
Texas Master Naturalists - Lost Pines Chapter - Bastrop, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 0935 Collected Aug 5, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry CliffeNPSOT 0967 Collected Oct 5, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 1103 Collected May 5, 1991 in Bexar County by Harold C. Walker
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-MM-791 Collected 2010-07-02 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
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Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Ampelopsis arborea in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ampelopsis arborea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ampelopsis arborea
Metadata
Record Modified: 2007-09-06Research By: NPC
