Native vines of New Mexico

              NEI,II MEfiCO COT,T,EGE OF AGRICULTURE AliD IECH.JIIC iiRTS
AND riGRICUtTUnfi EXFERII;IENT STATION
Press Bulletin 7I7
NATM VINES 0F NEW lrEXIC0
Vin*s are anong the most useful p}ints for landscaping the home grounds. They
are usually of rapid growbh and so give qrdck results. There is a.freedorn and grace
about them that poduces a softness in ttre landscape that carr be obtained in no other
rlray. Ngrother plant ta.kes away more quickly tte newness or cnrdity of buildings than
do vines,
Vines have a nultitud,e of uses. There are species that 1d11 serve ln'aLmost
any capaelty. The mqv be wed to cover walls, fences, and arbors, either for a close
heavy screen or for decoration on1y. Thcy may be planted to cover any unsightly ob- ject that cannot be remored, while for holding the soil on earth banks there is noth-ing
better.
A healy sereen of vines on the west side of a house that is in a hot, sunny 1o-cation
is'a very effective rr:ans of nalcing the,house cooler. In the clirnate of the
Southwest, noted for both dryncss and eunli$rt, there is little danger of too snrch
dampne ss beczuse of shade, Unsi$tly fences may become beautlful -leafy walls by the
use, of appropriate vlnes. 01d bulldings that are an eJresore tnrt nust be endured
nay be made a thing of bcauby by planbing vines that wiII vel1 the ugliest parts and
so sometimes lcnd enchantment to an aged structure. , , :.
Vines that do not produce a heary shade, but have beauty of form or florrycr, are
t+seful on porch columns or for draping around windowsl and add attractiveness to a well-built arbor or fence.
Plants for all these purposes mey be secured fror:n the nurseries, but there arc
nativc vines tha.t may be used in any location, and the greater perccntage of them. arc
hardy agd will stand drouth, eo1dr. and.heat to a remarkable dcgree. In digglng
planlsr care should be used to obtain plcnty of roots. Thcy should also be kcpt
darnp and placed in their new location as soon as possible, for much depends on hov
successfully the transplanting is done.
Plants found daring the growing season strould not be moved at that tirne, but
nay be ri!,rked in sonre weJr and remorred when they are dormant. Marqr tfunos these na- tive species seem to thrive better, especielly in dry locations, than any of the
cultivated pl,rnbs frona a differcnb c1i.rzre.tc.
Thc wild grapevine (Yltac"pq) is ttre largest, heaviest vine native to New Mcxico. It is found in the mountains and foothills, but will grow in elmost any location
after once getting a Btart. It w:ilL form a thicl(e hcar,5r screen and can be trained to any hcight desired, The Ie aves are muctr ffieller than those of the cultiva.ted
varieties but othemrise are vcry much the sane. The fragrance of the crearnSr vrtrite
flowcrs in the spring is deli$rtfuI and the prfunne is carried on ttre l.ir for sornc
distancc fron the plentsr The grepes are sral.l and sour but raake exccllcnt Jeil-y
and are rnuch used for that purpo$ey for they grol{ ln vlrtually every mountainous
section of the State. The plants may'be grown from seeds or cuttings, bub they are
so plcntiful that it ls much better to gct thrifty young ple-nts, as they grow to the
desired size much more qui.ckly. The young groA'th of the grapevj-ne w:iLl bc grazed
by stock often _rvhen ottrer p3-ants will not be touched, so in sore locations the Vir-ginia
crecper (laTtlre*gciP.sus), which is a very near rclc.tive of thc gropel will be
a nore satisfactory vlnc. '
Thc Virginia creepcr, when grown on a fence or trelJ-is, wiII forn a neater,
snnoottrer waII of grcen than arqr obhcr native perennlal vlne. It nray be used pricti-cally
an;nrhcre the.t a vine is nceded, and gr"ows vcry rapidly and vigorously. The
more water it receives thc more'rapidly it grovrs, brt an cntire lack of vratcr for a tine only causes grovrth to stopr. not killing the plant.
Thc leaves of thc creepcr are palmately connporrnd ard r:sually five,fingered; in
the falL they turn a brilliant red, presenting sorne of the most bcautiful leaf color-ings
knorvn. Thc flowers are sornev*rat greenish, snall and inconspicuous. The ber- ries, vrhen riper are blue-black and quite grapelike, on very red stcr:ns. The plants
arc easily propagatcd by cuttings, dlvisj.ons, or layers.