Muscadine, Carlos, Bare Root

Muscadine, Carlos (Vitis rotundifolia 'Carlos')

The Carlos muscadine is a bronze-fruited variety famed for its high-quality juice, wine, and jelly production. With medium-sized berries and a sweet, balanced flavor, Carlos has been a staple in southern vineyards and home gardens for decades. This self-fertile cultivar ripens mid-season and is prized for its consistent yields, vigorous growth, and robust disease resistance. Whether grown for its fruit or as an ornamental vine, Carlos is a reliable, low-maintenance choice for a productive and beautiful landscape.

Key Characteristics

• Premium-quality fruit for processing
  The medium-sized, bronze berries are sweet and flavorful, making them ideal for juicing, winemaking, and jellies. The high sugar content ensures an excellent final product.

• Reliable mid-season harvests
  Ripening from late August through September, Carlos produces consistent yields of high-quality fruit for fresh or processed use.

• Self-fertile and productive
  As a self-fertile variety, Carlos sets fruit without the need for a pollination partner, making it an easy and reliable choice for growers.

• Disease-resistant and vigorous growth
  Resistant to Pierce’s disease and powdery mildew, Carlos thrives in the heat and humidity of southern climates with minimal maintenance, perfect for organic systems.

• Versatile in the landscape
  The vigorous, fast-growing vines are ideal for trellises, fences, or arbors, providing both beauty and functionality in edible landscapes.

Product Details

• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Medium, well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–6.5)
• Mature Height: 12–15 feet with support
• Bloom Time: Late spring (May to early June)
• Bloom Color: Inconspicuous greenish-white
• Fruit Qualities: Sweet, medium-sized bronze berries with high sugar content
• Fruit Uses: Juice, wine, jellies, fresh eating
• Fruit Ripening Month: Late August through September
• Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7–9

Key Takeaways for Garden Success

Plant Carlos in full sun with well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use a trellis or arbor for support, and prune annually to encourage healthy growth and maximize fruit production. Its disease resistance and vigorous nature make it a joy to grow in gardens or vineyards.