• Photo of Ampelopsis megalophylla (Ampelopsis megalophyllas)

Plant Profile: Ampelopsis megalophylla

Names

Large-leaved parthenocissus, Pepper Vine, Spikenard ampelopsis

  • Photo of Ampelopsis megalophylla (Ampelopsis megalophyllas)

Phonetic Spelling:am-pel-OP-sis meg-a-low-fi-lah

Genus:Ampelopsis

Species:megalophylla

Family:Vitaceae

The pepper vine is a deciduous woody climber characterized by its smooth stems and young leaves that start off bluish-green, transitioning to vibrant shades of yellow-orange and red in autumn. This vine is often cultivated for its attractive foliage, typically trained on trellises or along walls.

In its natural habitat, the pepper vine thrives in forests and open woodlands, where it grows as a native species. However, it can become invasive in disturbed environments, such as landscaped areas, where it is often used as an ornamental plant.

It is important to note that the pepper vine is toxic if consumed.

Ampelopsis megalophylla Feature Summary

Ampelopsis megalophylla Image Gallery

Tags

#poisonous
#deciduous shrub
#climbing
#tendrils
#climbing vines
#ornamental vine
#groundcover
#deciduous vine

Similar Plants

Ampelopsis megalophylla Feature Summary

Attributes
Birds eat the berries.
non-edible
Perennial
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
Colorful
Screening
Fruit
The berries are dry or slightly fleshy, bluish, or greenish dark purple. The berries turn black in the fall.
Green
Black
Blue
Flowers
Small greenish-white flowers in late summer.
White
Green
Leaves
Its leaves are the largest of any hardy vine.
Green
Blue
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Elliptical
Ovate
Oblong
> 6 inches
Stem
A hairless stemmed plant that may be multistemmed.
Smooth (glabrous)
Poisonous to Humans
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Poisonous
Vine
Ground Cover
Medium
Tendrils
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape

Ampelopsis megalophylla Attributes

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Country Or Region Of Origin

China

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Wildlife Value

Birds eat the berries.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Edibility

non-edible

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Climbing Method

Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining

Ampelopsis megalophylla Fruit

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Fruit Description

The berries are dry or slightly fleshy, bluish, or greenish dark purple. The berries turn black in the fall.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Blue
grass
Green

Ampelopsis megalophylla Flowers

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Flower Description

Small greenish-white flowers in late summer.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
White

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ampelopsis megalophylla Leaves

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Description

Its leaves are the largest of any hardy vine.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange
spa
Red/Burgundy

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Ampelopsis megalophylla Stem

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Stem Description

A hairless stemmed plant that may be multistemmed.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Ampelopsis megalophylla Poisonous to Humans

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Poison Symptoms

The berries may cause an upset stomach.

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Poison Toxic Principle

unknown

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Ampelopsis megalophylla Whole Plant Traits

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Appendage

Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns

Ampelopsis megalophylla Cultural Conditions

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ampelopsis megalophylla: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Ampelopsis megalophylla: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ampelopsis megalophylla Landscape

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Ampelopsis megalophylla: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland