fox grape noun A woody vine (Vitis labrusca) that bears small, edible grapes green in color but later turning brown. Same as possum grape.
1997 Nelson Country Folklore 49 After the frost, fox grapes that grew wild were gathered to make jelly.
~Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
In my area fox grapes and possum grapes are two different things.
Fox grapes, like the ones in the photo, grow along the creeks. They seem to thrive on the moisture that abounds from the ever flowing water.
Possum grapes grow away from water, high in the tree tops. They are much smaller, darker, and very tart.
When Pap was a boy he helped his mother and grandmother gather fox grapes each year. He’d climb trees to reach grapes that couldn’t be gathered from the ground.
Pap said they used tow-sacks to carry the grapes, because buckets were hard to come by. His mother and grandmother canned grape juice and sometimes whole grapes to use during the winter months. They also made jelly and jam from the grapes.
On one grape gathering expedition Pap lost his prize possession.
He fell out of one of the trees, landed in the rocky creek bed, and broke his pocket watch. He said he was proud of the watch and was so disappointed when he fell and broke it. His Uncle Wayne tried to fix it, but couldn’t.
Pap said he never did get another pocket-watch, but he continued to help his mother and grandmother gather grapes every year. In later years he helped Granny and me do the same.
Every time Pap would talk of fox grapes he’d tell me about possum grapes. He said they were smaller and typically didn’t grow near water like fox grapes do. He also told me they were so tart you could barley eat them.
Every time he mentioned them, I wished I could see them for myself. Pap said he knew where some used to grow in one of the hollers above the house, but that he hadn’t seen any in years.
About two years after Pap died The Deer Hunter took me outside and pointed out a grape vine growing high in the oak trees along the front of our yard. I said “Wonder what they are? I think they’re too far from the creek to be fox grapes.” Then suddenly I remembered the possum grapes. I said “Do you think they could be the possum grapes Pap was always telling me about?” The Deer Hunter said he didn’t know, we’d just have to wait and see.
I could barley stand it till the grapes ripened. I checked every few days and it seemed to take forever.
They ripened to a deep black color. Just like Pap said they were smaller than fox grapes. And oh my goodness he wasn’t kidding about them being tart.
I count fox grapes and possum grapes as part of the amazing bounty which can be found in the Appalachian mountains during summer.
Last night’s video: Fried Green Tomatoes, Fresh Green Beans with New Potatoes, Roast, Cornbread & Peach Cobbler.
Tipper
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I have never heard of either of these grapes. Very interesting.
My husband’s mom and dad has grape vines. They have big clusters of them and they are so good.
I’m not heard of them grapes until now. I’m always a learning new things from you Tipper. Thank you!
From what I read long ago, Concord Grapes are a cultivar of Fox Grapes. Through selective breeding the humble Fox Grape has been modified into the deep purple Concord Grapes people have come to expect when referring to grapes. But, because we have developed the Concord Grape doesn’t mean that the Fox Grape isn’t viable and doesn’t lessen the value of the mother plant!
I remember picking fox grapes with my parents down along a small river not far from where I live now. They made the best jelly and juice!
Years ago when my late husband and I lived in Florida we visited friends in the Florida Panhandle and hunted wild grapes. We found fox grapes and another, much larger grape, that we were told were Bullis grapes. We returned home with a large dishpan full of wild grapes to which we added both muscadine and Tipper’s favorite variety (I can’t remember the name). We made jelly from these and it was the best grape jelly I’ve ever tasted!
I don’t recall seeing any of the grapes growing around my creek. Maybe it is because some critter is waiting in the wings to devour anything edible and some things, like rose bushes, I wouldn’t consider too tasty with all their thorns. The deer ate every Concord grape while they were green, all of the apples they could reach from three trees, and the soybeans don’t stand a chance. I’m still hopeful I will find some grapes now that I know where to look.
Morning everyone. After reading Sadie Ledbetter’s story. I thought of my dad. Somewhere in his seventies he came down with a form of Leukemia. Besides the pills he took, the doctor told him to drink one glass of red wine every day. It was so strange to see my dad drink it. He never smoked, drank alcohol or coffee. He ate oat meal every morning. He did love anything with sugar in it. Or honey. He lived close to 10 years with this illness. The dr. even said he was the longest living patient with this form of Leukemia. So maybe it was the wine, made from grapes. Or maybe it was God listening to his prayers. I say it all the time. God was kind to take him. For all he had to suffer in his life, I never heard him complain. But he would never understand what is going on in this world. Anna from Arkansas.
We have quite a few wild scuppernongs on our farm. I don’t recall possum grapes growing though. I think our scuppernongs are volunteers from neighbors’ gardens. The squirrels bring us all kind of presents from grapes to nuts to the occasional lone tomato plant where they dropped the fruit.
I had no idea there were fox grapes and possum grapes. We just always called them all wild grapes. I am guessing the ones way up high in our oak trees are possum grapes. It’s so much fun to learn new things right here each day. Have a blessed day everyone! I sure hope we get some rain today…our grass is so brown now.
Well I have never seen fox grapes evidently. Those in the picture look to me the same size as muscadines. And I’ve never seen a grape that is brown when ripe. Your possum grapes sound like what we called fox grapes. They are small, black, shiny and (to me anyway) have a brassy taste. I have not seen them in years and years. I’m going to look up the “Vitus labrusca” in the USDA Plants Database and see what the range is shown as. Depending on what I find, I may make a second post.
I wonder if North Carolina’s fox grapes and the same as Michigan’s riverbank grapes, both growing near water, but our riverbank grapes have similarities to your Pap’s fox grapes as well–the deep bluish-black color and very tart. I’m sure there must be some differences as our climates and length of seasons are very different, but there are surely similarities as well because, no matter, jelly was the purpose and reward.
I’ve heard of fox grapes but not possum grapes. Enjoying all these wonderful stories you share with us. So sorry Pap lost his cherished pocket watch.
Tipper, I am mad at you for not inviting me to the supper you are showing in the video! Looks like y’all were pigging out. My Daddy called the short green bean you showed that only had a few bean seeds or the pods without many beans dry weather beans. Between the hot, dry weather, deer and me not being able to take care of it like I should, my garden is completely gone, even my tomatoes died last Friday when it got to 101 and close to 110 feel like temps. I have got to cut a couple of acres of grass today, I am fixing to start now and try to beat the 95 degrees and high humidity forecast for today. I will give it a lick and a promise with the riding mower, I am unable to use a weed eater. I have started using weed killer for the trim work.
Tipper, I’m enjoying learning about these fox and possum grapes and hearing all the collecting and gathering tales. It breaks my heart Pap lost his pocket watch to grape gathering. What gets me is he never got a replacement. I’d have had to get him a few if possible. Lol The fox grapes in your hand look to be a good size. I am happy to see and learn about all God’s bounty right in your back yard or woods a short piece away. You know turning water to the best wine anybody ever tasted was Jesus’ FIRST MIRACLE and he did this special miracle on behalf of his dear mother who asked it if her beloved son from heaven! Grapes are good for the soul indeed and a special food. Mommy once said grapes build your blood. I know they taste delicious and that’s about it. Ive been eating big blackberries every day off the bush right off the patio and it’s been a nice treat. I made green beans and taters last night with the beans from my garden bounty… how nice garden bounty truly is and I thank the Lord for it all!
I just love hearing all your stories. I feel so bad about the pocket watch. That would have been a prized possession for a young boy.
Look like muscadines or scuppernongs?
Muscadine = Vitis rotundifolia
Scuppernong = Vitis rotundifolia
Fox Grape = Vitis labrusca
Muscadines and scuppernongs are the same thing genetically. Fox Grapes are in the same family but genetically slightly different.
My thoughts exactly, Richard. Is there a difference? I’ve shaken many a muscadine vine in my time. Deep blue in color and yummy to both man and beast.
Richard, the wild muscadines that I have known were larger and were dark purple or dark blue some would have brown spots on the hull and did not grow in clumps. The same is true for scuppernongs except they were a white/greenish color, similar to green grapes. One other thing muscadines grow throughout the woods not just near a creek, and I never saw any scuppernongs growing wild. They were always grown in a garden or something similar.
When I still lived in FL my neighbor from the Boone area would bring me these grapes every season. What a great gift. I made jam every time