Fox grape

Family Vitaceae. Grows in shady places, along river valleys of North America.

A vigorous high-climbing liana with well-developed, two-branched tendrils by which it climbs to great heights. Leaves broadly ovate up to 15 cm, glossy, entire, less often slightly three-lobed, with a narrow sinus at the base. Very fragrant, small flowers are gathered in many-flowered panicles. Berries spherical up to 1 cm in diameter, black, with a slight glaucous bloom and thick skin, in cylindrical clusters up to 25 cm long. Seeds require stratification for better germination. Sowing depth 1.5 cm.

Cold-hardy, withstands temperature drops to -28°C. Avoids soils containing lime. Used as an ornamental plant for vertical greening and as a rootstock for cultivated varieties to increase their disease resistance.