Types of Grapes

Grapes (Vitis spp.) are an often overlooked yet desirable plant for an edible garden. Cultivated for thousands of years, grapes are easy to grow and produce fruit for a relatively long period each season. Vigorous, vining plants, grapes come in almost 8,000 varieties, all falling within two basic groups. These are called bunch grapes and muscadines, with each group divided into subcategories. All varieties can produce for many years, but it's important to choose types adapted to your climate and growing conditions.

As their name suggests, bunch grapes produce their grapes in large clusters, with grapes attached to stems that eventually join with one large stem to form a bunch. Bunch grapes come in two basic types, called American grapes (_V_itus labrusca) and European grapes (Vitus vinifera).

Although both can grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardness zones 6 through 9, with some variation by cultivar, American grapes tend to be more tolerant than European grapes, while European grapes are best suited to warm, dry conditions such as those found in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Many cultivars of bunch grapes have been developed by crossing American and European grapes to produce hybrids, which embody traits of both parent plants.

Examples of American bunch grapes that work well in a home garden include _V_itus labrusca 'Concord,' which grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. Introduced in the mid-1800s, it has blue-black grapes, with seeds, that are mostly processed into juice, jam or wine, although they're also flavorful when eaten fresh.

European grapes are commonly used in commercial wine production, but can also be grown in a home garden. Examples include the variety 'Chardonnay' (Vitus vinifera 'Chardonnay'), a golden grape that's a vigorous grower, making it useful for screen plantings, and known for its sweet fruits. 'Merlot' (Vitus vinifera 'Merlot') is another good choice for home growing, with clusters of purple grapes and foliage that turns golden yellow in fall. Both of these grapes grow in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Several hybrid varieties also do well in a home garden. A cultivar called 'Blanc du Bois' is a good example of a hybrid produced by crossing European and American grapes. It withstands heat and humidity well and is extra resistant to disease, producing grapes usually used to make wine. It grows in USDA zones 6 through 10.

Another hybrid cultivar called 'Himrod' has seedless golden yellow grapes that can be eaten fresh or dried to make raisins. This plant grows in USDA zones 5 through 8.

Some grape varieties such as 'Concord' might become invasive in certain parts of the United States. Control this tendency by cutting back vines annually and removing any seedlings that appear where unpicked grapes drop to the ground.

Muscadine grapes, also called scuppernong grapes, are native plants in eastern North America, with grapes that usually have dark purple, bronze or black skins and a softer pulp than bunch grapes. The grapes grow as small groups, or clusters, rather than forming large bunches, and tend to have a musky flavor. Unlike bunch grapes, all varieties of muscadine grapes have seeds.

Among the varieties of muscadine grapes available for home planting, the cultivar 'Fry' has bronze-skinned, extra-sweet grapes. 'Cowart' has blue-black grapes on vigorous vines that also tolerate heat well, while 'Scarlet' has reddish grapes that are mild in flavor; its vines are also heat tolerant and have good resistance to diseases. These three plants grow in USDA zones 7 through 9.

A cultivar called 'Black Noble' is a bit more tolerant of cool weather, growing in USDA zones 6 through 10. It has purple-black, medium-sized grapes that are especially good for wine-making.