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Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Typical habitat (Grapevine Canyon, Lake Mead NRA)

General: Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica) is a woody vine that often grows densely on shrubs and trees in canyons with permanent water (at least subsurface water). The leaves are heart shaped and 3-6 inches long; and true to the name, the vine produces grapes during summer.

Canyon Grape is an uncommon component of vegetation communities on wet or damp, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils along streams and canyons into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone.

Around Las Vegas, Canyon Grape can be most easily seen at Willow Springs in Red Rock Canyon NCA and at Grapevine Canyon in Lake Mead NRA.

Family: Grape (Vitaceae).

Other Names: Wild Grape, Arizona Grape.

Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Coarsely toothed, heart-shaped leaves

Plant Form: Woody vine with broad leaves. The plants are dioecious (that is, pollen (male) and fruit bearing (female) flowers on separate plants).

Height: The plant itself has little height, but it can grow to cover entire trees.

Bark: Reddish brown; peeling with age.

Stems: Woody vine with tendrils.

Leaves: Heart shaped, usually coarsely toothed, dark green, to 6-inches long and 5-inches wide.

Flowers: Blooms: spring to summer. Inflorescence: panicle (cluster of grapes). Flowers small, greenish white. Male and female flowers on separate plants.

Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Young fruits

Seeds: Fruit: clusters of grapes. Grapes to 3/4-inch diameter, juicy, purple-black. Seeds: 1-4 per grape. Grapes flavors range from tasty to bitter.

Habitat: Wet or damp, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils along streams and canyons into the lower mountains.

Elevation: 2,000 to 7,500 feet.

Distribution: Southern Nevada, southern Utah, and Arizona.

Comments: This is an important source of food for birds and other wildlife.

Grapes are pollinated by butterflies and bees. During the monsoon season, Arizona Grapes (like their commercial cousins) can become infested by Grape Leaf Skelotonizer Moths (Harrisina sp.), the caterpillars of which eat the leaves and leave the veins. Older caterpillars are yellow with black and blue bands, plus stinging hairs.

Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape can cover shrubs, trees, and the rest of the landscape
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape can cover shrubs, trees, and the rest of the landscape
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Typical habitat (Grapevine Canyon, Lake Mead NRA)
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Typical habitat (Grapevine Canyon, Lake Mead NRA)
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Thicket of leaves covering whatever is underneath
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Thicket of leaves covering whatever is underneath
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Coarsely toothed, heart-shaped leaves
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Coarsely toothed, heart-shaped leaves
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Fresh leaves seem to be more hairy
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Fresh leaves seem to be more hairy
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Older leaves are hairless and shiny
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Older leaves are hairless and shiny
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Woody vine with tendrils
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Woody vine with tendrils
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Fresh tendrils
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Fresh tendrils
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Tendril making a long reach
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Tendril wrapping around a stem
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Stems are red
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Plant with developing grapes
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape flowers
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape flowers
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape flower buds and flowers
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Grape flower buds and flowers
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape developing fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape developing fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape developing fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape developing fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape developing fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape ripe fruits
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape during winter
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape during winter
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape during winter
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica)
Canyon Grape during winter

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 240605

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