Vine Fruits
Grape, kiwi, passion fruit, dragon fruit
9 articles in this section
Grape: 8,000 Years of Wine, Raisins, and Table Fruit
Grapes were among the first fruits humans cultivated. The story of Vitis vinifera, the global wine industry, and how to grow grapes at home.
Kiwi: The Chinese Gooseberry Renamed for Marketing
The kiwi is a 20th-century commercial success — a Chinese vine fruit renamed and marketed by New Zealand growers. The story of one of horticulture's fastest rises.
Passion Fruit: The Spanish Missionary's Symbol
Named by 17th-century Spanish missionaries who saw symbols of the Passion of Christ in its flower. A tropical vine that grows in any subtropical garden.
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya): The Cactus Fruit That Conquered Asia
Native to Mexico and Central America, the dragon fruit has become one of Vietnam's top exports — and one of the most distinctive-looking fruits anywhere.
Muscadine: The American Southern Grape
Muscadine is a native American grape species, thicker-skinned and more disease-resistant than Vitis vinifera. The story of the Southern grape.
Cape Gooseberry (Physalis): The Inca Golden Berry
The cape gooseberry is a small orange fruit inside a papery husk — native to the Andes, cultivated globally as an exotic dessert berry.
Bilberry: The European Wild Blueberry
The bilberry is the European wild relative of the blueberry — smaller, darker, more intensely flavored. Used by RAF pilots in WWII for night vision.
Hardy Kiwi (Kiwiberry): The Cold-Climate Kiwifruit
Hardy kiwi is the grape-sized smooth-skinned cousin of the fuzzy kiwifruit, surviving down to -34°C. The story of this overlooked cold-climate vine.
Chayote: The Mesoamerican Vine Squash That Acts Like a Fruit
Chayote is botanically a squash but eaten and grown like a fruit — a vigorous Mesoamerican vine that produces year-round in mild climates.