Vitis Claret Cloak ('Frovit')

RHS Plant Profile

grape [Claret Cloak]

Synonyms

Vitis 'Frovit'
Vitis coignetiae 'Frovit'
Vitis 'Claret Cloak'
Vitis coignetiae 'Claret Cloak'

Climber Wall Shrub

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A vigorous, deciduous climber reaching up to 12m in height and 4m across. The 3-5 lobed leaves are purple-red in spring with a woolly white underside, maturing to an olive green colour in summer before turning orange and scarlet-red in the autumn. Insignificant green, slightly fragrant flowers are borne in late spring followed by clusters of purple fruits up to 1cm across in autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Vitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten whether fruits are edible or ornamental - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Vitis are vigorous deciduous climbing shrubs with tendrils and attractively lobed leaves, insignificant green flowers followed by often edible fruits; some have excellent autumn foliage colour
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any reasonably fertile, preferably neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by layering in autumn or hardwood cuttings in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Climber and wall shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 11 in midwinter and again in midsummer, to restrict growth if needed

Pests

May be susceptible to grapevine blister mite, glasshouse red spider mite, brown scale, woolly vine scale and spotted wing drosophila (fruit fly)

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, grey moulds, honey fungus and virus diseases