Plant field guide
Muscadine - Scuppernong
The original and most famous muscadine variety, cultivated since the 1500s. Large greenish-bronze berries with distinctive sweet, musky flavor. The mother vine on Roanoke Island, NC is 400+ years old. Female variety - needs a pollinator like Carlos.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Vitis rotundifolia 'Scuppernong'
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 120 in (305 cm) – 240 in (610 cm)
- Spread
- 120 in (305 cm) – 240 in (610 cm)
- Spacing
- 120 in (305 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 7–9; average annual extreme minimum from 0°F (-17.8°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- moderate
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: February, March.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Female vine - must plant with a self-fertile variety like Carlos or Noble for pollination. Extremely vigorous and long-lived. The name 'Scuppernong' is often used interchangeably with muscadine but is actually a specific variety.
Pruning
Heavy dormant pruning in late winter. Train on sturdy trellis or arbor.
Fertilizer
Balanced (10-10-10)
Early spring and late May
Mulch
3-4 inches of organic mulch.