Desert Wild Grape is native to Southern California. It tends to grow streamside or oases for us locally and is found in more arid regions than Vitis californica. It is deciduous, in the winter the leaves turn a beautiful shade of red before they drop in the coldest months. Leafing out again in the spring. The flowers are inconspicuous, followed by edible purple fruits in the summer which attract many birds including California Thrashers. In the wild, it tends to climb over other plants with stems reaching up to 50 ft. In the garden, it can be trained to climb up a trellis, fence, or wall. Use Desert Grape on a shade structure to create a cool shady retreat! Makes an excellent addition to a wildlife habitat providing shelter and food. The natural habitat is riparian so it likes water but is drought-tolerant once established. Caution: Fruit (like all grapes/raisins) is toxic to dogs.