Amur grape is a wild grape from northeast Asia and one of the most cold-hardy grapes in the world—it can survive air temperatures around −49 °F (−45 °C). It isn't native to North America, but it is an ancestor of cold-hardy wine grapes such as 'Rondo' and 'Solaris'.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A vigorous deciduous vine whose stems typically spread 33–60 ft (10–18 m), with dark, scaly bark and reddish young shoots.
- Leaves
- Large leaves, about 4–10 in (10–25 cm) wide, usually with three to five lobes. They turn crimson, purple, orange, or yellow in fall.
- Flowers
- Small flowers visited by bees. Male and female flowers usually grow on separate vines.
- Fruit
- Black to dark blue, thick-skinned berries up to about 1/2 in (12 mm) across, in small clusters. Flavor ranges from very sour to sweet.
Where it lives
- Range
- Native to the Russian Far East (Amur region and Primorsky Krai), northern and northeastern China, and Korea, with rare wild populations in Japan.
- Preferred conditions
- Grows in river and stream valleys, clearings, and forest edges. It prefers loose, acidic soil and doesn't tolerate too much lime.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Breeders cross it with European wine grapes and fox grapes to create varieties that survive harsh winters; it also shows some resistance to certain grape diseases.
- The fruit is made into wine, juice, jelly, and jam, and the vine is grown as an ornamental for its fall color and tolerance of city pollution.
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