Crimson Glory Vine Plants

Vitis coignetiae/Crimson Glory Vine Plants

Vitis coingnetiae is an award-winning, really prolific-growing large vine absolutely fantastic for its gorgeous golden to crimson flushed, heart-shaped leaves in autumn.

The grapes are small, deep purple to black, not palatable fresh, but could be sweetened and cooked; in Asia, they are sometimes used for wine making. In Europe, they are really grown as ornamental vines, ideal for covering sheds and walls (it's too heavy for a weak fence) to 12-15 metres, and the grapes are left on the vine for birds.

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Features:

• Large deciduous healthy climber
• Bunches of black grapes in autumn
• So-so for eating due to the pips. Great for juice
• Reasonably good for red wine production
• Size: To 12m x 4m in a space of 10-20 years
• Dazzling autumn colour
• Fully hardy
• Will need light support
• Sunny or lightly shaded position
• RHS Garden of Merit Award

Growing Vitis coignetiae

Full sun is essential if you plan to harvest the fruit, but a little shade is fine otherwise. The microclimate beside a warm, sunny wall is ideal. It prefers fertile, well-drained but moist soil, particularly during the growing season, with an alkaline to neutral pH balance. When planting place plenty of organic matter in the soil.

It will need a sturdy trellis or wire support, quickly growing to fill a space 12m x 4m. It can be pruned in mid-winter to create a framework and again in mid-summer if required.

In Your Garden Design

In the UK, it is mainly grown over pergolas for shade or sometimes in urban glass extension areas with the roots on the outside, the foliage and fruit adorning the ceiling inside. Wisterias and vines go well together and if you want to harvest grapes consider companion plants that will help repel pests, weeds and retain moisture in the ground. Roses are ideal for this as are geraniums, basil, rosemary, mint and hyssop.

Did You Know?

Named after Mr. and Mrs. Coignet (the latter being daughter of rosarian Jean Sisley), who brought the first seeds to Europe from Japan in 1875. Knap Hill nursery was the first in Britain to cultivate it, although they probably got their seeds or plants via the East India Trading Company.

In Korea and Japan in particular, its fruit are used for making a medicinal wine, but this is not common in Europe, where the wine comes out a bit bitter. Unlike normal wine, however, it does contain Rhapontigenin, which is thought to inhibit cancer, although we couldn't tell you whether drinking the compound does any good.

Not to be confused with Vitis 'Ornamental Grape', which is also called Crimson Glory.