With the leaves changing to reds, yellows, and oranges which in turn means that fall is on its way. This also means that wild grapes are popping up everywhere! With these delicious-looking fruit hanging off of vines in your yard or local park, you may be wondering which ones are edible.
All types of wild grapes and cultivated grapes are basically edible. However, not all parts of every grapevine are safe to eat. There are poisonous plants that resemble grapes, so only consume a plant if you’re confident it’s safe and know what you’re eating.
Fortunately for you, I have compiled a list of which wild grapes are edible and which wild grape varieties are safe to eat so that you can enjoy this harvest season!
Which wild grapes are edible?
There are many types of wild grapes that grow in North America. Basically, all of them are edible! But it is important to know which ones you can eat safely and limit the risk of ingesting pesticides or toxins from roadsides.
All types of wild grapes and cultivated grapes can be safely eaten. However, it is important to know the difference between a safe plant and one that poses risks because there are poisonous plants that resemble edible fruit such as moonseed. More on that topic is below.
All types of wild grapes and cultivated grapes can be safely eaten. However, it is important to know the difference If you are looking for a type of grape that is low in acid, maybe because of stomach issues, then the fox grapes are your best bet. Fox grapes have less than 0,2 % citric acid and can be eaten right off the vine without any preparation!
When you decide to eat grapes right from the vine you should keep in mind that some wild grape varieties may cause nausea or stomach upset if they grow on roadsides near highways with high amounts of car exhaust.
Interesting Fact: Grapes have been eaten for thousands of years by humans and were considered a staple food in Roman times.
Grapes are a tasty and healthy fruit but only consume them if you know what type of grape is in front of you. If they look like grapes it is not necessarily safe to eat! Don’t risk your health with any part of that vine, just walk away.
Which wild grapes should I avoid?
Grapes are beautiful and tasty, but some have poisonous parts that can be hazardous if ingested. It is never a good idea to pick or eat them from an unknown plant as there could be harmful chemicals in the fruit which you’re not aware of!
Moonseed looks somewhat like a grape but is actually fatal. It can be one of the most deadly types of poisonous weeds that you’ll ever come across in nature. Moonseed has this bright green color to help conceal its toxicity from birds who might mistake them for ripe fruit during feeding time.
Numerous animal species have been found dead or sick after consuming moonseeds, so please do not consume these plants!
Virginia creeper is another plant that closely resembles grapes and is often confused as such by foragers. The berries of this vine should not be eaten because they are poisonous!
You can tell the difference because Virginia creeper berries are bluish, like grapes, but they grow in groups while grape vines have individual fruit.
If you don’t like the bitter taste you should avoid muscadine grapes. These are very different from other grapes because they grow on vines and have a strong, bitter taste that some people enjoy while others do not like it at all.
Muscadine grapes are not poisonous and they are actually good for you! They can help with weight loss and improve your heart health.
Even though all types of grapes are non-toxic to humans, grapes and all products from them are toxic for dogs. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs.
If you want to eat grapes be sure to only pick the ones you know! If it tastes sour or bitter then those are maybe not a good option as they may contain high levels of toxins that could harm your body.
Can you eat raw grape leaves?
Grape leaves are one of the healthiest and most delicious foods on earth!
Most people eat grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice. However, you can also enjoy them raw! Grape leaves are refreshingly tart and crunchy. You’ll love these nutrient-dense appetizers that taste like pickles!
Raw grape leaves can be used in salads and other dishes. They are full of Vitamin A, K, C & B-Complex Vitamins, Thiamin, Iron, Calcium, and Potassium.
However, keep in mind that not all grape leaves are edible and many grapevines are sprayed with pesticides that can be harmful to humans.
When it comes to the Fox grape, their leaves are only considered edible when they are young. When they mature, their leaves can cause a rash.
If you want to be safe, grape leaves should be blanched for 30 seconds before eating them! This will make them easier to chew and digest as well as help neutralize any toxins.
Are wild grapevines bad for trees?
Wild grapes are a menace to trees. They can damage the trees by crowding them out, reducing their growth, or even causing death as well!
Wild grapevines put an extreme amount of weight onto branches. As a result, the branches cannot support this weight and break.
Wild grapes vines also cause problems by narrowing tree trunks as they grow around them. This can cause trees to split or have large wounds that are susceptible to infection from disease-causing organisms which could kill the tree!
A similar effect is when grapevines grow around trees in such a way that they cut off air circulation to parts of the tree’s trunk or outer branches, which can cause damage over time.
Grapes grow in clusters and often form extensive underground root systems making them difficult to remove once established. They also produce huge amounts of suckers all over the tree which means you’ll need to cut them off regularly. This is really time-consuming and hard work!
Final thoughts
Grapes are nutritious and delicious fruits that can be found in many different varieties. They also make for great natural remedies, like juice to help with constipation or leaves to reduce swelling!
However, keep in mind that not all plants that look like grapes are edible! Many poisonous plants look very similar to grapevines so if you’re unsure it’s best just to avoid them altogether!
Grapes are very healthy for humans, but they can be deadly to dogs. Make sure you don’t let your dog eat grapes or anything that has come into contact with them!
If it tastes sour or bitter then those are maybe not a good option as they may contain high levels of toxins that could harm your body.
