Vitis girdiana
Desert wild grape
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · licence
Family: Vitaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Vitis girdiana (Desert wild grape) is a native California vine in the Vitaceae family.
Desert wild grape is a native shrub found in southwestern California, desert mountains, and possibly San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains in streamsides and canyons at elevations below 1,750 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small flowers with subtle coloration. Growing with densely woolly stems that remain tomentose as they age, the shrub develops complex branching patterns. Its leaves are heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, typically with 3 to 5 shallow lobes, featuring serrated edges and a soft, woolly texture. The fruit develops as small black spherical berries less than 8 millimeters wide, with a skin that separates easily from the pulp.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species in southwestern CA deserts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, canyons
Elevation: < 1750 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Yolo
Outside California: southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, southwestern Utah, Baja California
Bloom period
Vitis girdiana 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 girdiana native to California?
Yes. Vitis girdiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vitis girdiana bloom?
Vitis girdiana blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Vitis girdiana grow?
Vitis girdiana occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of < 1750 m.
What plant family does Vitis girdiana belong to?
Vitis girdiana is in the Vitaceae family, genus Vitis.
What habitat does Vitis girdiana grow in?
Vitis girdiana grows in Streamsides, 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.