Vitis 'Beta'

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Vitis 'Beta'

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Kemper Code: N520

Common Name: grape
Zone: 3 to 9
Plant Type: Fruit
Family: Vitaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Spread: 15 to 20 feet
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Color: Greenish
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Best grown in deep, loamy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but must have good drainage. Needs a location sheltered from winter winds (preferably a southern facing slope) and well removed from frost pockets. Self-pollinating. Grapes need a support system, training, regular spraying and regular pruning to maximize fruit production. For more detailed information on grape culture, see Home Fruit Production, Grape Culture and Home Fruit Production Grape Training Systems (University of Missouri Extension publications G6085 and G6090) which are available for inspection or purchase at the Kemper Center Information Desk.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

'Beta' is a small, seeded American grape variety. A woody, deciduous, tendril climbing vine which typically grows 15-20' long unless pruned shorter. Panicles of fragrant, greenish flowers in spring are followed by clusters of small, tart-flavored, blue-black, seeded grapes which ripen in early-mid season (late August in USDA Zone 5). Considered to be a good grape for juices and jellies. Large, shallowly three-lobed, green foliage. Flowers are attractive to bees. Ripe fruit is attractive to some hornets and wasps.

Problems:

Grapes are high maintenance plants which require regular chemical spraying and pruning. Grapes are susceptible to a large number of diseases, particularly in humid summer climates such as Missouri, including anthracnose, black rot, downy and powdery mildew, crown gall and botrytis bunch rot. Insect pests include phylloxera, grape berry moth, Japanese beetle, leaf hopper and leaf roller.

Uses:

Grapes are primarily grown for fruit production in home fruit gardens where they provide little ornamental value to the landscape. However, grapes do in fact have good ornamental value: bold summer foliage, showy fruit, some fall color and shaggy, twisted trunking and branching often best seen in winter. When grown on fences, walls, trellises, arbors or other structures, grapes can be quite attractive year-round and can provide good cover, screening, or shade to areas around the home.