Grape Ivy.
Cissus trifoliata, Grape Family: ( Vitaceae ), Grape Ivy. Also Called: Sorrelvine, Marinevine, Possum Grape, Cow Itch Vine, Arizona Grape Ivy, Ivy Treebine, Marine Ivy, Cissus incisa, Sicyos trifoliatus.

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A woody or semiwoody vine to 30 feet long with tuberous roots. Stems 4- or 6 ridged, with orange -red lenticels becoming warty.

Used as an accent or background plant. This is a gray accent shrub that contrasts well against other shrubs with deep green foliage.

It's fruits are black, 1 - 4 seeded, obovoid, 6 - 9 mm long.

On the negative side, many people, especially in Texas, say that it is very invasive and that it has a terrible smell. They are trying to get rid of it!

Quick Notes:

Height: About 30 feet long.

Flowers: Small, greenish.

Flowering Time: March - April in Phoenix.

Leaves: Alternate, somewhat succulent, simple, trilobed, or trifoliate, to (3.1 inch long. Leaflets ovate to obovate, coarsely and irregularly toothed, producing a disagreeable odor when crushed.

Found: Native to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, & Argentina. The USDA claims it is native of the USA (AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, KS, LA, MO, MS, NM, OK, TX), USA+ (PR, VI).

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F)

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
8.6 to 9.0 (strongly alkaline)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade

Elevation: 600 - 2,800 feet. Even though said to be hardy at higher elevations, we can find no - one growing it higher than in zone 9b.

Habitat: Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Sandy, Well-drained/light soils. Stream banks, rocky ravines, roadsides. An ideal xeriscape landscape plant in Arizona.

Miscellaneous: Photos Taken At Glendale, Arizona. September 6, 2006.