Frost Grape
Vitis vulpina
In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in forests and woodlands, primarily upland, but also in bottomlands. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you
Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- About 83 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Somewhat dry to moist

At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- May to June
- Fruiting season
- July to November
Not yet recorded · Spread
Recorded in 46 Arkansas counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 87 animals.
- Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsonii
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Yellow-crowned Night-heronNyctanassa violacea
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
- American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula
- Common Ground-doveColumbina passerina
- Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus
- GadwallAnas strepera
- Least BitternIxobrychus exilis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianus
Widespread birds also seen here (60)
Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.
- American Goldfinch
- American Kestrel
- American Robin
- Bald Eagle
- Baltimore Oriole
- Belted Kingfisher
- Black-crowned Night-heron
- Blue Grosbeak
- Blue Jay
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Brown Creeper
- Brown Thrasher
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chimney Swift
- Chipping Sparrow
- Cliff Swallow
- Common Nighthawk
- Common Yellowthroat
- Cooper's Hawk
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Bluebird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Eastern Screech-owl
- Eurasian Collared-dove
- European Starling
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Great Horned Owl
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Harris's Sparrow
- Hooded Merganser
- Indigo Bunting
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Flicker
- Northern Mockingbird
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Orchard Oriole
- Osprey
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pine Siskin
- Purple Finch
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Tufted Titmouse
- Turkey Vulture
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Wild Turkey
- Wood Thrush
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Who uses this plant?
69CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR
Genus host records with ranges including AR · Vitis
- Abagrotis anchocelioidesBlueberry Budworm Moth
- Abagrotis cupidaCupid Dart
- Abagrotis magnicupidaOne-Dotted Dart
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
- Acoloithus falsariusClemens' False Skeletonizer Moth
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Agnorisma badinodisPale-Banded Dart
- Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
- Agrotis vetustaOld Man Dart
Show all 69
- Alypia octomaculataEight-Spot Forester, 8-Spot Forester
- Amphion floridensisNessus Sphinx
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Apantesis argeArge Tiger Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
- Darapsa myronVirginia Creeper Sphinx
- Deidamia inscriptumLettered Sphinx
- Desmia funeralisGrape Leaffolder Moth
- Dyspteris abortivariaThe Bad-Wing, Badwing
- Enyo lugubrisMournful Sphinx
- Episimus argutanaSumac Leaftier
- Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
- Euclidia cuspideaToothed Somberwing
- Eudryas grataBeautiful Wood-Nymph
- Eudryas unioPearly Wood-Nymph
- Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
- Eulithis gracilineataGreater Grapevine Looper
- Eumorpha achemonAchemon Sphinx
- Eumorpha intermediaIntermediate Sphinx
- Eumorpha pandorusPandorus Sphinx, Pandora Sphinx
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Euxoa messoriaReaper Dart, Darksided Cutworm, Dark-Sided Cutworm
- Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
- Geina periscelidactylaGrape Plume Moth
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Harrisina americanaGrapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth
- Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Lacinipolia meditataThe Thinker
- Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Paralobesia viteanaAmerican Vine Moth, Grape Berry Moth
- Paranthrene tabaniformisDusky Clearwing
- Phyllocnistis vitifoliellaGrape Serpentine Leafminer
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
- Psychomorpha epimenisGrapevine Epimenis
- Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphecodina abbottiiAbbott's Sphinx
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
- Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
- Vitacea polistiformisGrape Root Borer Moth
- Vitacea scepsiformisVirginia Creeper Clearwing, Lesser Grape Root Borer
- Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
- Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
- Cacotherapia unipuncta
- Platynota nigrocervina
10BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Vitis
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
22BirdsRecorded eating Vitis in Arkansas
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Arkansas, most records first.
- Ruffed GrouseFruit and leaves. 18 diet records
- Wild TurkeyFruit. 6 diet records
- American RobinFruit. 6 diet records
- Wood DuckSeeds. 3 diet records
- Cedar WaxwingFruit. 3 diet records
- Eastern KingbirdFruit. 3 diet records
- European Starling2 diet records
- American Crow2 diet records
- Hermit ThrushFruit and seeds. 2 diet records
- Red-headed Woodpecker2 diet records
Show all 22
- Blue-headed Vireo1 diet record
- Brown-headed Cowbird1 diet record
- Downy Woodpecker1 diet record
- Northern Cardinal1 diet record
- Red-bellied Woodpecker1 diet record
- Red-winged Blackbird1 diet record
- Spotted TowheeFruit. 1 diet record
- Swainson's ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
- White-breasted Nuthatch1 diet record
- Wood ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherFruit. 1 diet record
- Yellow-throated Vireo1 diet record
Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Birds that eat Vitis 22
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
- Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
Plant details
- Family
- Vitaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a–10b
- Soil pH
- Acidic to alkaline
- Flower color
- Yellow or white
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Several stems
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- July
- Fruit ends
- November
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “May to June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “Yellow or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “November” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 5a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “About 83 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Winter Grape
Conservation status
| Arkansas rank | SNR |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| AR status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Sources
- Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Arkansas (2013)
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025)
- Arkansas occurrence source
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications











































