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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Vitaceae (Grapes) |
| Flower Color: Green |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Cissus juttae] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 2-4 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Cyphostemma juttae (Wild grape) - A slow-growing deciduous succulent shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall or more but is usually seen much smaller in cultivation. It has heavy swollen main stems of the type of plants that is often called a caudiciform. These stems have papery, peeling bark and at the branch tips hold large (up to 1 foot long) gray-green ovate shaped fleshy leaves with toothed margins that emerge in late spring a red-purple color and fall off during winter. The flowers are held above the foliage but are tiny and inconspicuous and followed by showy grape-like bunches of pinkish red berries towards summer end. Though these berries look like grapes, to which this plant is related, they should not be eaten as they contain toxic levels of tannic acids. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally when in leaf - can be grown outdoors in our winter rainfall gardens but soil must drain well. Winter hardy to at least 25°F - specimen plants at our nursery withstood 3 nights down to these temperatures in the January 2007 freeze. An interesting and attractive plant in the succulent garden or as a container specimen, even relatively small pots. Wild grape comes from arid southern Namibia where it grows in rocky soils. The name for the genus comes from Greek words 'kyphos' meaning "hump" and stemma, meaning a "wreath" or "garland". The specific epithet honors Jutta Dinter, wife of the German botanist Kurt Dinter. Other common names include Tree Grape, Namibian Grape, Droog-my-keel and Bastard Cobas (Basterkobas) in reference to its relationship to the Kobas Tree, an original native name for Cyphostemma currorii.
This information about Cyphostemma juttae displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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