Grapevines are known for vineyards and backyards, but are also abundant in the wild. Grapevines may be easy to identify when they are mature and have bunches of fruit hanging off them, but when they are young they are not as easily recognizable, except for their leaves. Grape vines have several distinguishing characteristics to help identify the leaves, such as shape, color and texture.
Look first for vines that grow upward and wrap around items such as trees. Grapevines do not grow along the ground (like ivy), nor do they grow outward so this is a crucial characteristic to look for before trying to identify the leaves.
Search the vine for heart-shaped or three-lobed-shaped leaves that are a uniformly green color throughout the growing season, but once winter hits with the dormant season, start to turn purplish brown around the edges and curl upwards.. Grape leaves look like large maple leaves, sometimes growing up to 8 inches wide.
Look for leaves that have a jagged edge, as all grape vine leaves have this appearance. They should not be smooth or round.
Search on the underside of the leaves and the stems for the tiny fuzzy hairs that most grape vines and leaves have.
Look for the small curly tendrils that grape vines grow near the base of the leaves. Mature grape vines have many of these, although the younger ones have enough to be noticeable.