Are these grapes edible? - Ask Extension
These vines have taken over my yard. They look like Concord grapes, but of course I want to be sure before I taste them. Can you help? Thanks!
Knowledgebase
Are these grapes edible? #713286
Asked August 14, 2020, 12:42 PM EDT
These vines have taken over my yard. They look like Concord grapes, but of course I want to be sure before I taste them. Can you help? Thanks!
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- this appears to be a wild grape vine. The fruit are edible when ripe. There is one wild grape "look-alike" with poisonous fruits to be aware of- common moonseed. It has dark purple fruits that contain a single flat seed. Wild grape fruits contain 1-4 pear-shaped seeds.
Common moonseed (Menispermum canadense)- https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=2323
Jon
Common moonseed (Menispermum canadense)- https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=2323
Jon
Hi- porcelain berry is another grape look-alike to be aware of:
https://vnps.org/unwanted-unloved-porcelain-berry/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ampelopsis-brevipedunculata/#:~:text=Wildlife%20Value%3A-,It%20spreads%20very%20quickly%20since%20birds%20and%20mammals,fruit%20and%20disperse%20the%20seeds.&text=Edibility%3A,Berries%20are%20poisonous.
Jon
https://vnps.org/unwanted-unloved-porcelain-berry/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ampelopsis-brevipedunculata/#:~:text=Wildlife%20Value%3A-,It%20spreads%20very%20quickly%20since%20birds%20and%20mammals,fruit%20and%20disperse%20the%20seeds.&text=Edibility%3A,Berries%20are%20poisonous.
Jon
