Vitis californica
California wild grape
(c) Mary K. Hanson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Vitaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Vitis californica (California wild grape) is a native California vine in the Vitaceae family, recognized by tomentose leaves, glaucous purple fruit, and moderate nodal partitions.
California wild grape is a native shrub found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Valley, central western California, and southern eastern Sierra Nevada in streamsides, springs, and canyons at elevations below 1,250 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces flowers that develop into spheric, purple, glaucous fruits over 8 millimeters wide. Growing with tomentose stems that become less hairy with age and nodal partitions 3 to 4 millimeters thick, it forms spreading or climbing growth. Its leaves are heart-shaped to kidney-shaped with shallow lobes, crenate to slightly serrate edges, and a somewhat woolly texture. The fruits are distinctive, with a skin that separates from the pulp and containing 3 to 4 round seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by tomentose leaves, glaucous purple fruit, and moderate nodal partitions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, springs, canyons
Elevation: < 1250 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, Butte, Lake, Mariposa, Humboldt, El Dorado, Calaveras, Plumas, Madera, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Napa, Tulare, Shasta, Fresno, Placer, Santa Barbara, Trinity, Orange, San Joaquin, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Alameda, Sutter, Glenn, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Nevada, Amador, Del Norte, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Solano, Tehama, Yolo, Colusa, Yuba, Ventura, Sierra, Marin, Monterey, Stanislaus, San Diego, Merced
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Vitis californica blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Marah: Vitis has palmately lobed leaves and grape-like fruit clusters; Marah has deeply cut star-shaped leaves and large spiny fruits.; vs Hedera: Vitis has tendrils opposite leaves and lobed leaves with rounded sinuses; Hedera lacks tendrils and has pointed leaf lobes.; vs Ribes: Vitis is a climbing vine with tendrils; Ribes (currant/gooseberry) is an upright shrub without tendrils.; vs Rubus: Vitis has simple palmately lobed leaves; Rubus (blackberry) has compound leaves with separate leaflets and thorny stems.; vs Parthenocissus: Vitis has single leaves with deep lobes; Parthenocissus has separate leaflets radiating from center like fingers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vitis californica native to California?
Yes. Vitis californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vitis californica bloom?
Vitis californica blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Vitis californica grow?
Vitis californica occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, Butte, Lake, Mariposa, Humboldt, El Dorado, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of < 1250 m.
What plant family does Vitis californica belong to?
Vitis californica is in the Vitaceae family, genus Vitis.
What habitat does Vitis californica grow in?
Vitis californica grows in Streamsides, springs, canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.