Grapes are a popular fruit, and it is often questioned whether they grow on trees or vines. Botanically, the answer is definitive: grapes do not grow on trees. The plant that produces the fruit belongs to the genus Vitis, which is classified as a vine.
Grapes Are Grown on Vines
The plant responsible for nearly all commercial grape production is Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine. This species is botanically categorized as a woody, deciduous vine, also known as a liana. Unlike a true tree, which develops a self-supporting trunk, the grape plant has a climbing habit.
A true tree possesses a single, self-supporting woody trunk that grows vertically. The grape vine, however, is a scrambling plant that relies on other structures for upward growth. In the wild, the vine climbs over trees or sprawls horizontally over shrubs for stability. If left unpruned, the woody stem can reach lengths of 40 to 60 feet, demonstrating its natural propensity to spread.
The main stem of a mature vine, called the trunk or stock in viticulture, becomes thick and woody over the years. This woodiness sometimes causes confusion, as the vine develops a structure resembling a small, gnarled tree base. However, this base cannot support the full weight of the canopy without training and a support system. The grape is a berry, the fruit of this vine, growing in clusters from the perennial or annual growth.
The Unique Growth Structure of Grape Plants
The appearance of grape plants in a vineyard is largely determined by cultivation practices. Grape growers use support systems like trellises, arbors, and stakes to guide the vine’s growth and create a structured canopy. This training maximizes sun exposure, improves air circulation, and makes harvesting easier, resulting in higher quality fruit production.
The vine climbs using specialized, thread-like structures called tendrils. These tendrils are thigmotropic, meaning they are sensitive to touch, and coil tightly around any object they encounter, providing the necessary anchor for the vine to ascend. Without a trellis system, the vine becomes a tangled mass on the ground, making the fruit susceptible to disease and difficult to manage.
The permanent arms of the vine, which extend horizontally from the trunk along trellis wires, are called cordons. These cordons are pruned annually to produce the new shoots that bear the fruit. This extensive training transforms the naturally sprawling vine into the tidy, row-based architecture associated with modern vineyards.