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We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🍇 Cowart Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia ‘Cowart’) – A Classic Southern Favorite 🌟
The Cowart Muscadine Grape has earned a reputation as one of the best all-around muscadines for home growers. Introduced in 1968 by the University of Georgia breeding program, Cowart remains a staple thanks to its large black fruit, excellent sweet flavor, and reliable productivity. Its self-fertile nature makes it a dependable choice for both new and seasoned grape enthusiasts.
🌿 Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Vitis rotundifolia ‘Cowart’ |
| Plant Type | Fruiting Vine (Deciduous) |
| Size at Sale | Ships in 1-gallon container |
| Mature Height & Width | 12–15 ft with trellis support |
| USDA Zones | 7–9 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Cold Hardiness | 10–15°F |
| Growth Habit | Vigorous climbing vine |
| Spacing Requirements | 15–20 ft apart |
| Pollination Needs | Self-fertile (no pollinator needed) |
🍇 Fruit Details
- Color & Size: Large, glossy black fruit averaging 8–10 grams each.
- Skin & Texture: Medium-thick skin with juicy pulp inside; easier to eat than some older black cultivars.
- Flavor Profile: Sweet and aromatic, with the rich muscadine complexity that Southern growers love. Often praised for its excellent table quality.
- Harvest Season: Mid-season, typically late August through September.
- Fruiting Habits: Consistent, heavy producer; self-fertile vines ensure reliable crops year after year.
📜 Origin Story
‘Cowart’ was released in 1968 by the University of Georgia as part of their muscadine breeding program. It quickly gained popularity as a versatile, self-fertile cultivar with reliable production and outstanding fruit quality. Named after a Georgia grower who supported muscadine breeding efforts, Cowart has been widely planted across the Southeast for decades. It remains a top choice for home vineyards, blending heritage reliability with excellent eating quality.
🌱 Top Benefits & Uses
- Culinary Delights: Delicious fresh from the vine; also ideal for jellies, jams, pies, and homemade wine.
- Nutritional Value: Muscadines are rich in antioxidants, including resveratrol, which supports cardiovascular and immune health.
- Ornamental Value: Glossy dark fruit clusters add dramatic beauty to arbors and trellises.
- Cultural Significance: A landmark muscadine cultivar in the history of Southeastern grape breeding.
- Wildlife Benefits: Pollinators and birds benefit from flowers and fruit.
🌼 Ornamental & Container Appeal
- Landscape Use: Perfect for covering arbors, fences, or trellises while producing fruit.
- Container Growing: Can be trained in large containers (15–25 gallons) with trellis support; best yields when planted in-ground.
🌿 Best Practices for Planting & Care
Where to Plant:
- Choose full sun for maximum sweetness and productivity.
- Prefers well-drained sandy loam but adapts to most soils.
Planting Instructions:
- Plant level with the soil line; do not bury the crown.
- Backfill with native soil + compost.
- Use the High & Tight planting method for best results.
Watering:
- Water daily until established, then weekly.
- Increase watering during flowering and fruiting.
Mulching:
- Apply hardwood mulch for moisture retention.
- Keep mulch several inches away from the crown.
Pruning:
- Annual winter pruning ensures strong vines and heavy yields.
⚠️ Cautions
- Birds: Fruit is highly attractive to birds; consider netting to protect harvests.
- Skin: As with many muscadines, skins are thicker than supermarket bunch grapes.
🍷 Collector’s Notes on ‘Cowart’
Grower Impressions: Since its release, Cowart has been regarded as a dependable cultivar for both commercial and backyard growers. Its self-fertility and reliable yields make it a cornerstone in muscadine vineyards.
Flavor at Peak Ripeness: Described as sweet, juicy, and aromatic, with excellent table quality that rivals newer cultivars.
Fruit Characteristics: Large, black fruit with a tender, juicy interior. Mid-season ripening makes it versatile in home vineyards.
In Summary: Cowart has stood the test of time as a classic black muscadine, still beloved more than 50 years after its release.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
- Gardeners wanting a reliable black muscadine with excellent flavor
- Growers in USDA zones 7–9
- Backyard vineyards, trellises, and arbors
- Collectors seeking a historically important cultivar
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Gardeners outside USDA zones 7–9
- Those who prefer thin-skinned supermarket grapes
❓ FAQ
1. Is Cowart self-fertile?
Yes, Cowart is self-fertile and will produce fruit on its own.
2. How does Cowart compare to newer muscadine cultivars?
Though older, Cowart still competes well in terms of flavor and productivity, with dependable yields and excellent fruit quality.
3. How long until fruiting?
Expect first harvests within 2–3 years, with heavier crops as vines mature.
4. What does Cowart taste like?
Collectors describe it as sweet, juicy, and aromatic with a classic muscadine flavor.
5. Can Cowart be grown in containers?
Yes, though best results are achieved in-ground with trellis support.
📦 Shipping & Handling Notes
- Size Note: This 1-gallon size ships best to Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.
- Nationwide shipping available, but northern and western states may experience transit stress. Allow recovery time after arrival.
- Heat/Cold Disclaimer: Please order with caution during extreme weather.
- We ship Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida. We are not responsible for heat/cold damage in transit.
📍 Local Pickup
Available for local pickup at:
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Open Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM
🌿 Come see what’s fresh!
🛒 Order Today!
Ready to enjoy a tried-and-true Southern classic? Add the Cowart Muscadine Grape to your cart today and bring home a vine with decades of proven success! 🍇✨
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
