Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines
Media
![Illustration of round-leaved catbrier leaves, flowers, fruits](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Round-Leaved_Catbrier_Smilax_rotundifolia.jpg?itok=a1gfGcb8)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Smilax rotundifolia
Description
Round-leaved catbrier is a climbing, perennial woody vine to 20 feet long with tendrils and stout spines, sometimes forming tangled thickets. In Missouri, it is found mainly in the Bootheel and nearby southeastern Ozarks.
Media
![Illustration of bristly greenbrier leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Bristly_Greenbrier_Smilax_hispida.jpg?itok=AwtZbEN9)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Smilax hispida (syn. S. tamnoides var. hispida)
Description
Bristly greenbrier is a stout woody vine with bristlelike black spines, climbing high by tendrils to a length of 40 feet. It is the most common greenbrier in Missouri and is found statewide.
Media
![Illustration of red grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Red_Grape_Vitis_palmata.jpg?itok=z90HNWma)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis palmata
Description
Red grape is an attractive, high-climbing, slender, delicate vine named for the color of its branches. It occurs mostly in eastern Missouri, especially along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Media
![Illustration of summer grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Summer_Grape_Vitis_aestivalis.jpg?itok=gdvMQ0R-)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis aestivalis
Description
Summer grape is a vigorous, woody, wild grapevine climbing to a height of 35 feet. It grows mostly in the southern two-thirds of Missouri, often in drier situations than many other grape species.
Media
![Illustration of raccoon grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Raccoon_Grape_Ampelopsis_cordata.jpg?itok=1qXTWqQs)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Ampelopsis cordata
Description
Raccoon grape is a woody vine climbing by tendrils to a length of 60 feet. The most aggressive native vine in the state, it can smother small- to medium-sized trees.
Media
![Illustration of peppervine leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Peppervine_Ampelopsis_arborea.jpg?itok=Y35MNzoJ)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Ampelopsis arborea
Description
Peppervine is a rather slender, upright vine, either high-climbing or bushy, tendrils present or absent. It favors wet or moist, low, wooded areas in southern and eastern Missouri.
Media
![Illustration of winter grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Winter_Grape_Vitis_cinerea.jpg?itok=BLKIf2uJ)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis cinerea
Description
Winter grape is a wild grapevine that can climb up to 50 feet. It occurs in low woods and along streams, in thickets, and in fencerows. It’s common in the southern two-thirds of Missouri.
Media
![Illustration of frost grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Frost_Grape_Vitis_vulpina.jpg?itok=hLPmCZbh)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis vulpina
Description
Frost grape is a vigorous vine climbing to 60 feet in length using tendrils. It is scattered statewide, growing in bottomlands, along streams, in low, wet woods, at bases of bluffs, and in thickets.
Media
![Illustration of riverbank grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Riverbank_Grape_Vitis_riparia.jpg?itok=jl2fAbN6)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis riparia
Description
Riverbank grape is a woody wild grape vine climbing to 75 feet by means of tendrils. It occurs nearly statewide but is absent from most of the Ozark plateau.
Media
![Illustration of sand grape leaves, flowers, fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Sand_Grape_Vitis_rupestris.jpg?itok=IIJeNNRX)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Vitis rupestris
Description
Sand grape is a bushy, sprawling, or trailing woody vine found along rocky streambeds or gravel bars. It rarely climbs but may reach a length of 8 feet. It lacks tendrils.
See Also
About Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines in Missouri
There are no sharp dividing lines between trees, shrubs, and woody vines, or even between woody and nonwoody plants. “Wood” is a type of tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants develop as they mature — whether they are “woody” or not. Trees are woody plants over 13 feet tall with a single trunk. Shrubs are less than 13 feet tall, with multiple stems. Vines require support or else sprawl over the ground.