Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia)
Exposure: Full sun. Zone 7-9.
Soil: Muscadine grapes prefer a well-drained acidic soil. Drought tolerant once established. Throw some extra gravel in the planting hole.
Growth Habits: Muscadines are easy-to-grow, climbing or creeping native vines that are largely insect and disease proof. They have attractive leathery green foliage that leaf out and flower late, thus avoiding most late spring frosts. We recommend muscadines for elevations up to 2500'. Prune annually to maintain high production levels.
Landscape Uses: Trellises, arbors, or fences in the home landscape. They are also suitable for home or commercial vineyards.
Usefulness: Muscadine grapes purple/black or bronze-colored fruit is sweet, musky, and delicious. Their thick skins are very high in beneficial antioxidants, Resveratrol, and anthocyanins (in the purple/black varieties) that are valuable for optimal health and disease prevention. Their grapes are wonderful fresh or can be processed into juices, wines, meads, pies, or fruit preserves.
$30.00 / 3 gal. Sale! Buy one and get a second for half price! Good until May 6, 2013.
Available Varieties
‘Carlos’ - Most common commercial bronze muscadine grown in North Carolina. Vigorous, productive, self fertile. Mostly used for juice and wine, and also very tasty for fresh eating. Prone to early budbreak and might experience cold damage from late spring freezes or frosts.
‘Southland’ – black fruit, 17% sugar, medium-large fruit with excellent flavor. It grows vigorously and is disease resistant. Ripens mid-season.
‘Triumph’ - Medium sized bronze fruit with a slight reddish color when fully ripe. Early ripening, with good flavor, high sugar content, and crunchy pulp. One of the most recommended varieties for fresh eating in North Carolina.