Crimson glory vine facts for kids

Vitis coignetiae, often called the crimson glory vine, is a plant from the Vitis family. This family also includes common grapes. It grows naturally in cooler parts of Asia. You can find it in the Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan. Scientists first described this plant in 1883. In Korean, it is called meoru (머루). In Japanese, it is known as yama-budo (ヤマブドウ).

History of the Crimson Glory Vine

The plant's scientific name, coignetiae, honors Mr. and Mrs. Coignet. They are believed to have brought its seeds from Japan in 1875.

Another person, Henri Degron, also found this vine in Japan in 1884. He was looking for wild vines that could resist a pest called Phylloxera. Degron sent samples to Professor Planchon in France. Professor Planchon named the plant Vitis coignetiae. However, he found it was not very good at resisting the phylloxera pest.

What the Crimson Glory Vine Looks Like

This vine grows very strongly and quickly. Its new shoots are a pretty purple color. The leaves fall off in autumn (deciduous). They are very large, often 15 to 30 centimeters across. The leaves are round and have jagged edges.

At first, the leaves are green. But in autumn, they change to bright red-orange colors. This makes the vine very beautiful. Wild vines can have male, female, or both types of flowers. The plant produces large bunches of small berries. These berries have big purple seeds inside. You can find this vine in the mountains of Japan. It also grows up to 1,300 meters high in Korea.

How People Use the Crimson Glory Vine

Crimson glory vine fruits, sold in Mungyeong, Korea

In East Asia, people grow the crimson glory vine for a few reasons. One main reason is its amazing crimson (deep red) leaves in autumn. It makes gardens look very colorful. It is also used in Oriental medicine in some areas.

This plant has won an award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it is a great plant for gardens.

People in Korea and Japan also use the berries to make wine. At first, this wine can taste a bit bitter. But adding sugar helps to make it taste better. The wine is known for its rich color.

Gallery

• ''Vitis coignetiae''
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  Vitis coignetiae leaves.

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  Vitis coignetiae vine growing in Cheshire, United Kingdom.

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  Vitis coignetiae fruit cluster.

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  Vitis coignetiae berries.

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  The ornamental grape autumn colors. Growing in Victoria, Australia.

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  Vitis coignetiae in Northern France.

See also

In Spanish: Vitis coignetiae para niños