Vine Fruits
History of grapes (8,000 years, Caucasus origin), kiwi (Chinese gooseberry renamed), passion fruit, dragon fruit, muscadine, and more vine-grown fruits.
9 articles in this section
History of Grapes: 8,000 Years of Cultivation & Spread (2026)
Grapes originated in the South Caucasus 8,000 years ago. Full cultivation history, the 1860s phylloxera crisis, global wine spread, and how to grow grapes at home.
Kiwi: The Chinese Gooseberry Renamed for Marketing
The kiwi is a 20th-century commercial success โ 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 โ 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 โ 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 โ 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 -34ยฐC. 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 โ a vigorous Mesoamerican vine that produces year-round in mild climates.