Grapes, Red 'Catawba' (Live Plant)

Key Characteristics of Catawba Grapes:

• Origin: The Catawba grape (Vitis labrusca × Vitis vinifera) is an American heritage grape variety. Its exact origins are unclear, but it is believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid, likely a cross between the native American Vitis labrusca and the European Vitis vinifera cultivar 'Sémillon'.¹ It was first cultivated in the early 19th century, with its discovery often attributed to the Catawba River Valley region of North Carolina around 1801.² By the 1820s, Major John Adlum in Washington D.C. played a significant role in its propagation and promotion.³ It became the most widely planted grape variety in the United States during the mid-19th century and was crucial to the early American wine industry, particularly in Ohio.
• Patent Status: 'Catawba' is a historic variety that was introduced in the early 19th century, long before plant patents were common. Therefore, Catawba grapes are not patented and are considered a public domain variety. They can be freely propagated and distributed.
• Berry Production: Produces medium-sized, round to oval berries with a distinctive coppery-red to purplish-red skin and a lilac-colored bloom.⁴ The berries have a slip-skin, meaning the skin is easily separated from the juicy flesh.⁵ The flavor is sweet with a characteristic "foxy" or musky aroma and taste, common to Vitis labrusca varieties, often described with mild berry and fresh fruit notes.⁶ The grapes typically grow in medium to large, cylindrical, and fairly compact clusters.⁷ They are a seeded variety. A pink-skinned mutation known as 'Pink Catawba' also exists.⁸

• Ripening Time: Catawba is a late-ripening grape variety, typically maturing weeks after many other Vitis labrusca grapes, usually from late September to October in many regions.⁹ It requires a long growing season to reach full maturity and can be susceptible to early frosts in areas with shorter seasons.
• Plant Size and Appearance: Catawba is a vigorous, hardy, deciduous grapevine that climbs by tendrils and can reach 15-20 feet in length or more if not pruned.¹⁰ It has large, three-lobed (or sometimes mono-lobed near the shoot apex) green leaves with a leathery upper surface and dense white tomentum (wooly hairs) on the underside.¹¹ It requires a sturdy support system such as a trellis, arbor, or fence.¹²
• Flowers: Grapevines produce small, greenish-white, fragrant flowers borne in clusters in late spring to early summer.¹³ Catawba is self-pollinating.¹⁴
• Hardiness: Catawba is a hardy vine, generally adapted to USDA Zones 5 through 8.¹⁵ It can withstand the continental climate of the Eastern United States with hot, humid summers and cold winters. However, its late ripening makes it more susceptible to harvest-time weather hazards in shorter growing seasons.¹⁶
• Pollination: Catawba is self-pollinating and will produce fruit without the need for cross-pollination.¹⁷
• Growing Conditions:
  • Sunlight: Requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) for optimal growth and fruit production.¹⁸
  • Soil: Prefers deep, loamy, humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It can tolerate a range of soil conditions, including sand or clay, but good drainage is essential. Acidic to neutral soil is preferred (pH 5.0-7.0).¹⁹
  • Watering: Requires medium and consistent moisture, especially during establishment and fruit development.²⁰
  • Pruning: Requires regular annual pruning during the dormant season to manage its vigorous growth and maximize fruit production.²¹ Spur pruning is often used.
• Uses: Catawba grapes are versatile and used for:
  • Winemaking, particularly for rosé and sparkling wines, and can produce off-dry to dry styles.²²
  • Making grape juice, often described as having a pleasant flavor.²³
  • Producing jams and jellies.²⁴
  • Fresh eating as a table grape, though the "foxy" flavor may not appeal to all.
• Wildlife Value: Grapevines provide cover, and the fruit is a food source for birds and other wildlife.
• Ornamental Value: Grapevines can be quite ornamental, especially when trained on arbors or pergolas, providing a leafy cover.²⁵
• Disease and Pest Resistance: While hardy, Catawba is susceptible to common fungal grape diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew, similar to many Vitis vinifera varieties, more so than some other Vitis labrusca types.²⁶ Good vineyard management and potentially spraying are often necessary in humid climates.