You’ve probably never run into Raccoon Grape in any landscape manual.  That’s because it’s a tough customer and will take over everything in its path.  It puts out runners rambunctiously and self-seeds abundantly in disturbed soils (like a cultivated garden bed).  Planted in harsh sites with poop, drought-prone soils it can spread to spectacular effect; however, I have had some in a potentilla bed next to the house.  I let it spread up the banister, creating a lovely effect.  Two or three times a season, however, I have to get into the bed itself and tear out the vine to give the potentilla a chance.  It requires a little effort but the effect is spectacular.  

Now that you have been warned, let’s talk about the distribution and growth characteristics of this fellow.  Raccoon Grape is common across the Midwest along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  You’ll find it in hedgerows and disturbed soils all over lower Minnesota.  It is said to be hardy through Zone 5, although it has done very well in our gardens in the south suburban Twin Cities.  The vine is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and will grow vigorously from seed.  Indeed, its strong point is its ability to go “where no plant has gone before”.  

The flowers of Raccoon Grape are unremarkable but visited by a variety of small insect pollinators.  The grapes are inedible but appear in early fall in a wide range of colors, ripening from a fuchsia pink to aqua and finally navy blue.  They are big hits with songbirds and, you guessed it, raccoons.  The leaves turn a sunny yellow in the fall.

So, if you are careful in placement and not afraid of curbing the vigor of Racoon Grape, this can be a hardy, strategic addition to difficult spots as well as a beautiful accent to arbors or fences.

Photo Credits: Missouri Department of Education; https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/raccoon-grape (1), www.missouriplants.com (2), Kansas Native Plants; https://kansasnativeplants.com/guide/plant_detail.php?plnt_id=153 (3)