Plant · GBIF taxon 5372394
muscadine
Vitis rotundifoliaAlso known as Scuppernong, Southern Fox Grape, Bullace Grape
High-climbing woody vines weave through southern thickets and floodplain forests, clinging to tree trunks with unbranched tendrils and smooth, non-shredding bark. Round, coarsely toothed leaves flush bright green each spring, forming dense canopy cover before round, thick-skinned berries mature in late summer. Birds, black bears, and raccoons rely heavily on the fruit while aiding in seed dispersal across forest understories.
Woody VineNativeFruit Bearing
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- American Black Bear
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, invasive vine competition
HabitatsFloodplain forests, thickets, woodland borders, sandy coastal plains
Life spanUp to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyVitaceae
- SpeciesVitis rotundifolia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to dogs if ingested; wild berries have dangerous look-alikes like Canada moonseed, so never ingest wild plants.
- Why it is dangerous
- Grapes cause severe renal failure in dogs, while wild look-alikes like Canada moonseed contain toxic isoquinoline alkaloids.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Muscadines feature unbranched tendrils, coarsely toothed leaf margins, and seeds that lack a crescent shape.
- What to do
- Keep domestic dogs away from fallen fruit and refrain from foraging wild grape clusters without professional verification.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Check for smooth dark bark, unbranched tendrils, and coarse leaf teeth to distinguish from other wild vines.
- Habitat Spotting: Scan sunny forest edges, fence lines, and riverbanks in warm southern lowland regions.
- Wildlife Observation: Watch dense vine tangles in late summer for thrushes, cardinals, and opossums foraging among the foliage.
Toxic Look-Alike (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Invasive Competitor 
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Reuven Martin · cc0
Close Relative (c) Sandra Keller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandra Keller · cc-by
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