Grape

Wholesale Wild Grapes in Michigan

Cold Stream Farm is proud to sell wholesale and retail Wild Grape (Vitis riparia) plants grown directly on our farm in Free Soil, Michigan. We offer wild grape bare-root seedlings, as well as shrub transplants with no minimum order required.

Shipping from Michigan to the rest of the United States, Cold Stream Farm is only restricted from sending our Wild Grapes to Alaska and Hawaii without an added shipping charge. Learn more about our shipping policy.

What to Know Before You Purchase Wild Grapes

“Wild grapes” is a term that can be used to describe several different species of plants. We sell Vitis riparia, which is a North American wild grape plant, that is often referred to as “riverbank grape” or “frost grape.” Other wild grape varieties include:

• Ampelocissus acetosa, commonly known as Djabaru
• Ampelopsis glandulosa, also known as porcelain berry
• Cyphostemma juttae, sometimes known as tree grape
• Vitis vinifera, the common grapevine
• Vitis californica, referred to as the California wild grape
• Vitis girdiana, also known as the desert wild grape

Our wild grapes (Vitis riparia) can be found growing in the wild, primarily in the central, north, and eastern parts of the United States and Canada. Other common names for Vitis riparia include fox grape, northern fox grape, plum grape, northern muscadine, swamp grape, or wild vine.

Appearance and Size

Our wholesale wild grapes can be distinctly recognized by their vines, flowers, and fruit. Vitis riparia tends to grow fast with vines that span between 60 and 100 feet in mature length. Although the vine, wild grape leaves are heart-shaped, ranging from 2 to 9 inches in size.

Known as the “frost grape,” our wild grape plants produce dark blue-black berries alongside small, whitish-green flowers. The berries from Vitis riparia vines grow in bunches, with each individual grape maturing to a diameter of about 5/16 to 1/2 inches.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Ideally, wild grapes thrive in USDA Zones 3-9. Wild grapes are tough and adaptable but favor ample sunlight and moist soil. Although they can be grown in heavily shaded areas, maximum fruit yields are typical of full-sun conditions with minimum periods of frost.

Native to some of the coldest parts of the continent, wild grape plants can withstand temperatures all the way down to −71 °F (−57 °C). Growing naturally, it is common to see wild grapes adapting to their conditions, growing alongside fences, riverbanks, and forest clearings. Wild grapes grow best if there is a season with 160 consecutive days above freezing temperatures.

The Perks of Growing Wild Grapes

Wild grapes are safe for human consumption and are often used in jellies, jams, or picking right off of the vine. Of course, this is only if the berries are picked before being eaten by birds, deer, and other critters.

Thanks to its ability to fend off both diseases and the cold, Vitis riparia plants have been used extensively in the research and development of other hybrid grape varieties. Wild grapes are also often used in winemaking.

Wildlife and Wild Grapes

Many bird species depend on wild grape plants for their food and shelter including robins, waxwings, cardinals, and mockingbirds. After consuming the fruit, birds can also help distribute seeds and naturally propagate more wild grape shrubs.

On the ground, an even greater number of species like to eat wild grapes. This includes deer, bear, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, skunk, opossum, and more. If you are planting wild grapes for human consumption a fence or enclosed planting area is highly recommended.

Common Problems with Wild Grapes

If your wild grape plant is left exposed to prolonged humidity or wet conditions, the fruit may begin to black rot after the overaccumulation of mildew. However, wild grape plants are typically very resilient to damage from the elements.

Despite their heartiness, wild grapes are subject to disease from insects, fungi, and bacteria. Diseases are rarely severe enough to completely kill a vine and can generally be treated with soil fumigation or solarization.

Planting and Maintenance

Wild grape plants are naturally setting, so long as they have the available room to grow. Fast-growing in ideal conditions, wild grapes require very little maintenance to mature and thrive. Annual pruning is recommended for preventing problems with your wild grapes. We suggest that you favor the best performing plants and utilize their rapid growth rates to replace underperforming vines.

Although Vitis riparia can be planted under an inch of tamped soil, the best results are typical of stem cuttings and transplants. Depending on the conditions, wild grapes will ripen in July, August, and September.

Order Your Wild Grapes from Cold Stream Farm

Ready to order your wild grape plants? Contact us today to order your transplants or seedlings. Cold Stream Farm has limited wild grape stock, so do not hesitate to order yours before it is too late.