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heartleaf peppervine

Ampelopsis cordata · Vitaceae

heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata)
Photo: E. W. Johnson · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) is a perennial vine in the Vitaceae family. It is native to North America. USDA records it as hardy in zone 6 and warmer, down to about -8°F.

At a glance

Typevine USDA
Lifecycleperennial USDA
Native statusnative USDA
Mature height2 ft USDA
Lightshade USDA
Water needmedium USDA
Growth ratemoderate USDA
Soil pH5.2–7.4 USDA
BloomMay–June USDA
Flower colorWhite USDA
Hardiness zones6 and warmer USDA
Guild layerclimber Derived
Nursery availabilityNo Known Source USDA

USDA quoted from the USDA PLANTS database · Derived computed by a fixed rule from those columns. No value on this page is estimated.

Growing conditions

It tolerates full shade. USDA rates it as having moderate water needs. Its drought tolerance is rated low. It is recorded on soils from pH 5.2 to 7.4 — a broad range that spans acidic through mildly alkaline ground. Its cold limit is zone 6.

Size and growth

At maturity it reaches about 2 ft, making it about knee height. It grows at a moderate rate.

Bloom period

USDA records a bloom period of May through June. Flowers are white.

A flowering date, not a pollinator rating.

Foliage, flower and season

Summer foliage is green, coarse in texture. Its flowers are conspicuous. Its active growth period is spring and summer. USDA rates its lifespan as moderate.

What the site needs to provide

USDA records it across sites receiving 32 to 60 inches of annual precipitation. It needs at least 145 frost-free days to finish its season. It roots to at least 12 inches. Fertility requirement: medium.

Propagating it

It takes readily from seed, cuttings, bare root and container stock. USDA records no cold-stratification requirement, so seed should germinate without a chilling period. Its seed spreads at a slow rate. It does not spread vegetatively, so it will stay where you put it.

Resilience and wildlife

Browsing animals find it moderately palatable, so expect deer and rabbits to take an interest. Its fire tolerance is rated medium, and it can resprout after damage. Its growth form is recorded as single crown.

Role in a guild

Climber. In a layered planting this is it uses other plants or structures for vertical support rather than standing on its own. The layer is derived by a fixed rule from growth habit and mature height.

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Tags

deciduousclay-tolerantsandy-soilnativeshade-tolerantclimber

Related plants

Similar role and hardiness

Where this data comes from

Every value on this page comes from the USDA PLANTS database record for symbol AMCO2, or is computed from those values by a fixed rule. Nothing here is estimated or model-generated. Where USDA publishes no value, this page omits the claim rather than filling the gap.

Read our full data sources and methodology.

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