textAdminOnlyNameForClipboard
Baboon Grape
Rhoicissus digitata
SA tree no: 456.2
English: Baboon Grape, Finger-leaved Grape, Natal Forest Grape, Monkey Grape
Afrikaans: Bobbejaandruif, Vingerblaar-druif, Rivierwildedruif
Xhosa: isaQoni, isaQoni esincini
Zulu: isiNwazi, umThwazi, umNangwazi, umPhambane
Historical scientific names: Vitis digitata, Cissus digitata
Rhoicissus digitata, commonly known as Baboon Grape or Bobbejaandruif, is a vigorous indigenous evergreen climbing shrub or liana widely distributed in the coastal and inland forests and bushveld of South Africa. It is highly recognisable by its distinctive palmately compound leaves, resembling a hand with several 'fingers', and its attractive clusters of small, dark, grape-like berries. This hardy climber is an excellent choice for covering pergolas, fences, or walls, providing dense screening and year-round interest, while its fruits are a valuable food source for birds and monkeys, contributing significantly to garden biodiversity.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features
A vigorous, evergreen climbing shrub or liana that uses tendrils to climb.
Features distinctive palmately compound leaves, typically with 3 to 5 (most commonly 5) leaflets radiating from a central point, resembling a hand or paw print.
Leaflets are glossy dark green above, paler below, and often have a reddish tinge on new growth.
Produces small, inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers in branched clusters.
Bears round, grape-like berries that ripen from green to bright red and then to black or purplish-black.
Young stems and new growth are often covered in reddish-brown hairs.
Overall appearance:
Rhoicissus digitata is a lush, fast-growing climber that creates a dense green curtain with its attractive, hand-shaped leaves. It provides excellent cover and a sense of maturity to the garden, adorned seasonally with inconspicuous flowers followed by colourful clusters of berries, adding a touch of natural beauty and attracting wildlife.
Height:
As a climber, it can reach heights of 5 to 20 metres or more, scrambling over other vegetation, trees, or structures.
Width:
Can spread widely, covering areas of several metres horizontally, depending on the support structure.
Leaves:
Palmately compound, typically with 3 or 5 (most commonly 5) leaflets radiating from a central point, resembling a hand with fingers.
Leaflets are sessile (without individual stalks), elliptic to obovate or lanceolate, 4–12 cm long and 1–4 cm wide.
Glossy dark green and somewhat leathery on the upper surface, paler and often with reddish-brown hairs on the veins beneath.
Margins are entire or sometimes sparsely toothed, especially towards the apex.
New growth often has a reddish tinge and is covered in fine, reddish hairs.
Flowers:
Small, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow to yellowish-green.
Borne in small, branched clusters (panicles) in the leaf axils.
Dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) or sometimes bisexual flowers.
Flowering season:
Flowers mainly in spring to early summer, typically from September to November.
Fruits:
Fleshy, spherical berries, resembling small grapes, 1–1.5 cm in diameter.
Borne in pendulous clusters.
Ripen from green to bright red, then to purplish-black or black.
Each fruit contains 1 to 2 seeds.
Seeds:
Ovoid, hard, typically dark brown or black, enclosed within the fleshy fruit. Dispersed by birds and monkeys.
Stems:
Slender, flexible, woody stems that climb using branched tendrils that emerge opposite the leaves. Stems are relatively smooth, greyish-brown to reddish-brown, often covered in fine hairs when young, becoming more woody and sometimes ridged with age. Older stems can develop peeling bark.
Roots:
Possesses a fibrous root system that helps anchor the climber. Generally non-invasive if given proper support.
Soil type:
Prefers well-drained, humus-rich soils. It can adapt to a range of soil types, from sandy to loamy, and thrives in fertile conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. In its natural forest habitat, it often climbs into the canopy, reaching for sunlight. It is moderately drought-tolerant once established but performs best with regular moisture. It is sensitive to severe frost, and young plants need protection, but established plants can tolerate light frost. It is relatively tolerant of coastal conditions, including some salt spray and wind, especially when sheltered.
Edibility:
The fruits are edible for humans, having a sweet to tart, slightly acidic taste, similar to wild grapes. They can be eaten fresh or used to make preserves or jelly.
Toxicity:
Generally considered non-toxic to humans. The fruits are edible.
Uses:
Ornamental Climber: An excellent indigenous climbing plant for covering pergolas, trellises, fences, walls, or old trees. Provides dense screening and a lush, tropical appearance.
Groundcover: Can be allowed to scramble as a dense groundcover in suitable areas, suppressing weeds.
Wildlife Food Source: The fruits are a valuable food source for numerous fruit-eating birds (e.g., pigeons, turacos, starlings, bulbuls) and monkeys, making it an excellent plant for attracting avian and primate biodiversity.
Edible Fruit: The ripe berries are palatable to humans and can be consumed fresh.
Traditional Uses: In traditional medicine, various parts of Rhoicissus species have been used for ailments, including digestive issues and pain relief, though specific documented uses for R. digitata are less common than for R. tridentata.
Ecology:
Pollination: Small flowers likely pollinated by generalist insects.
Seed Dispersal: The brightly coloured, fleshy fruits are consumed by fruit-eating birds and monkeys, which are primary dispersers of its seeds (endozoochory).
Habitat Provision: Provides dense cover and nesting sites for birds and other small animals.
Forest Dynamics: As a liana, it plays a role in forest structure and dynamics.
Distribution and habitat:
Rhoicissus digitata is widely distributed throughout the eastern and southern parts of South Africa.
South African Provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Gauteng. Also extends into Swaziland, Mozambique, and other tropical African countries.
Habitat: Primarily found in coastal forests, evergreen forests, dune forests, riverine bush, and bushveld, often climbing high into the canopy of other trees.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Rhoicissus is derived from the Greek words 'rhoia' meaning "pomegranate" (referring to the berry-like fruits) and 'cissus' meaning "ivy" (referring to the climbing habit).
The species epithet digitata is Latin for "fingered," referring to its distinctive palmately compound leaves that resemble fingers radiating from a palm.
Common names like "Baboon Grape" and "Finger-leaved Grape" directly describe its fruits and leaf shape.
Historical aspects:
Rhoicissus digitata has been an integral part of South African forest and bushveld ecosystems for centuries, providing food and habitat for wildlife. Its distinctive appearance and edible fruits have made it a recognisable and valued plant in its natural range. In horticulture, it is increasingly appreciated as a hardy, indigenous alternative to exotic climbers.
Interesting facts
This "Baboon Grape" vine lives up to its name with leaves that look just like a splayed hand or a monkey's paw, hence its "digitata" (fingered) name!
The small, dark berries it produces are like miniature grapes and are not only a favourite snack for baboons and monkeys but are also perfectly safe (and tasty!) for humans to eat.
It's a natural-born climber, using clever little tendrils to cling to anything it can, making it an expert at decorating fences, walls, and even other trees.
Growing tips
Propagation: Easily propagated from fresh seeds (clean the pulp off before sowing) or from semi-hardwood cuttings, which root readily, especially with rooting hormone.
Planting: Prefers a position in full sun to partial shade. Requires well-drained, humus-rich soil. Provide a strong support structure for it to climb.
Watering: Water regularly, especially when young and during dry periods. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant but performs best with consistent moisture.
Frost: Moderately frost-tender. Young plants need protection from severe frost. Established plants can tolerate light frost, but may suffer some leaf damage, though they usually recover.
Maintenance: Relatively low maintenance. Can be pruned to control its vigorous growth, to shape it, or to encourage denser foliage.
Pests/Diseases: Generally robust and pest-free.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Evergreen, shrub, scrambler or climber
Plant family:
Vitaceae (Latin plant name) - Order: Vitales