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Pepper vine

How to identify Pepper vine (Ampelopsis arborea)

Pepper vine, also known as Cow itch

Pepper vine boasts a climbing and twining growth habit, characteristic of its family, with tendrils aiding in its support. Its leaves are compound, typically with a rich green hue that shifts to a range of autumnal colors before they drop. The vine produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers which give way to clusters of dark, purplish-black berries. Each berry measures about 0.25 inches (6 mm) in diameter. The plant exhibits a robust nature, favoring moist environments where it often thrives in dense thickets.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Vine

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Pepper vine

1

Compound leaves with rich green shifting to autumn colors before dropping.

2

Inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in flat-topped clusters during summer.

3

Multicolored spherical berries maturing from red to blue-black, reaching 5/8 inch (1.6 cm).

4

Alternate, bi-pinnately divided leaves with ovate, toothed leaflets changing colors.

5

Robust climbing vine with tendrils, thriving in moist environments, forming dense thickets.

Pepper vinePepper vinePepper vinePepper vinePepper vine

Detailed Traits of Pepper vine

Leaf Features

The leaves of pepper vine are alternate, bi-pinnately divided, and can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and wide. They typically feature 1-3 pairs of ovate, coarsely toothed leaflets. Newly emerged leaves are a purple-red hue, transitioning to a light green and eventually a dark green at full maturity. In the fall, the foliage turns a vivid red. The undersides of the leaves are a lighter green. These leaves are distinct in their shape, size, vein pattern, and coloration.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

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Flower Features

Pepper vine flowers are greenish-white, appearing in inconspicuous, flat-topped clusters. Each flower is small, approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) in diameter, and comprises five petals arranged symmetrically. They are mostly odorless, making them less noticeable. Blooming occurs from June to August. These clusters, called cymes, spread broadly and provide a subtle yet distinctive feature for identification during the summer months.

Pepper vine Flower image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of pepper vine are noteworthy for their multicolored display and spherical shape. Initially green, the berries evolve through a vibrant red before reaching a mature blue-black hue, with clusters often showcasing this entire color spectrum simultaneously. Each berry reaches a sizeable 5/8 inch (approximately 1.6 cm) in diameter. These fleshy fruits emerge in fall, presenting a smooth texture and a round contour that can aid in their identification.

Pepper vine Fruit image
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Key Facts About Pepper vine

Attributes of Pepper vine
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Vine
Plant Height
6 m to 11 m
Spread
2.5 m to 3 m
Leaf Color
Green
Yellow
Red
Purple
Flower Size
2.5 cm
Flower Color
White
Green
Yellow
The Toxicity of Pepper vine
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Scientific Classification of Pepper vine

Order
Vitales
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Family
Grape
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Species
Pepper vine (Ampelopsis arborea)
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Distribution Map of Pepper vine

Pepper vine is found in many states across the southcentral and eastern US. It is a deciduous vine that lives in a wide variety of habitats from savannas to wetlands across North America. It has also been introduced to the Caribbean.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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