Black Beauty Muscadine Grapes

Muscadinia rotundifolia ‘Black Beauty’

Characteristics

Culture

The Black Beauty Muscadine vine produces very large, black grapes with excellent taste and edible skin. The Black Beauty vine is quite vigorous (fast growing) with large clusters of grapes with dry scars; and it typically yields 40-60 pounds of fruit. This Muscadine variety is very cold hardy and disease resistant. A Female variety that must be planted within 50 feet of a self-fertile variety. Note that 1 self-fertile muscadine will pollinate up to 3 female vines.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Developed at Ison’s Nursery in Brooks, Georgia; patent protected #7592. Black Beauty is a cross between the female variety Fry and the pollen parent variety 12-12-1 to produce an improved variety of black muscadine grape with dry scar and high sugar content that grows on a vigorous and productive vine.

Problems

• As a cultivar of a native plant, it is resistant Pierce’s Disease (PD). If affected, PD causes marginal leaf burn, but typically does not kill vines.
• Muscadine grapes are drought tolerant. Water during dry periods the first two years, then the vines can usually obtain adequate water from the soil even during dry periods.
• Muscadine grapes have a relatively high requirement for magnesium; and a shortage shows up as yellowing between the veins of older leaves. Premature fruit fall may also result. To prevent or correct magnesium deficiency, apply Epsom salts at the rate of 2 to 4 ounces for 1 and 2 year-old vines. For older vines, apply 4 to 6 ounces. Be sure to broadcast Epsom salts evenly over a 3- to 6- foot area and water it into the soil well.

Uses

With edible skin and a high sugar content, the Black Beauty Muscadine grape is good for fresh eating! It is also excellent for making wine, jelly, and juice.