Leaves thick, glossy, roundish, sometimes to about 30 cm wide, sometimes lobed, rusty-hairy felt below, colouring a spectacular bright red in autumn. Fruit hard, about 1 cm wide, waxy-black.

A few other species are grown for their ornamental foliage, including the E Asian V. amurensis, Amur Vine (Scarlet-leaved Vine), which also has reddish young shoots and purple to red autumn foliage, also V. riparia from E and C USA.

Japan.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Vitaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.