Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea'

purple-leaved grape vine

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: May and June
• Flower colour: small, scented, light-green flowers
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Deciduous, woody climber with three to five-lobed leaves that are grey-hairy at first, turning plum-purple before becoming dark purple in autumn. Small, unpalatable purple grapes are also produced in autumn. This ornamental vine is cultivated mainly for its stunning leaf colour and is ideal for covering a fence or wall.
  
  
• Garden care: When planting incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter in to the planting hole. It will need some help to clamber up a tree, wall or pergola so you will need to provide some support and tie it in as it grows. Once it has developed a good framework you should shorten all the lateral shoots to within two or three buds from the main stem. It is essential that the majority of the pruning work is tackled in mid winter as the sap tends to 'bleed' at other times of the year, but you can cut back the odd over-long stem to a healthy bud in summer.