Virginia-creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- par-then-oh-SIS-us kwin-ke-FOH-lee-ah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a deciduous, woody vine that is commonly called Virginia creeper or Woodbine. It is native to eastern and central North America south to Mexico. It is typically located in open areas of ravines, valleys, rich woods, thickets, rocky bluffs, hillsides, and fencerows. Native to North Carolina, it can be found naturally in swampy forests, maritime forests, and thickets. This is a vigorous tendril-climbing vine that will rapidly grow to 30-50’ long or more. It needs no support because it clings to surfaces (e.g., brick, stone or wood walls) by adhesive holdfasts (also called sucker disks) located at the tendril ends. It also will creep along the ground as suggested by the common name. Its bark is gray-brown with aerial roots and tendrils. When rapidly growing, the aerial roots are bright orange-brown.
The Virginia creeper is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It will tolerate full shade. Best fall color generally occurs in sunny locations. This is an easy-to-grow plant with good tolerance for a wide range of soils and urban conditions. It often needs little care but must be trimmed regularly to keep it in bounds; it grows quickly, but takes a year or two to get established. It should be sited in areas where it will have room to expand and grow. It should not be grown up wood or shingle walls because the holdfasts are difficult to remove. It can ruin painted surfaces. If unchecked, vines can also attach to and seriously damage such objects as gutters, shutters or wiring around homes and buildings.
Fire Risk:
This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems:
Mildews, leaf spots, canker, and wilt are occasional problems for this plant. It is also susceptible to a number of insect pests including beetles, scale and leafhoppers.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Back of House Planting Native/ Woodland Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Engelmann Ivy'
- 'Monham'
Commonly sold as STAR SHOWERS, "paint splatter" white markings on green leaves. - 'Muroru'
- 'Tricuspidata'
- Troki
Commonly called RED WALL, producing bronze foliage in spring, green through summer, red in fall.
- 'Engelmann Ivy'
- 'Engelmann Ivy', 'Monham', 'Muroru', 'Tricuspidata', Troki
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Engelmann Ivy'
- 'Monham'
Commonly sold as STAR SHOWERS, "paint splatter" white markings on green leaves. - 'Muroru'
- 'Tricuspidata'
- Troki
Commonly called RED WALL, producing bronze foliage in spring, green through summer, red in fall.
- 'Engelmann Ivy'
- 'Engelmann Ivy', 'Monham', 'Muroru', 'Tricuspidata', Troki
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Parthenocissus
- Species:
- quinquefolia
- Family:
- Vitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and United States to Mexico, North Carolina
- Distribution:
- throughout eastern and central North America south to Mexico
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, squirrels, opossum, raccoons, and other mammals. Bees and other pollinators enjoy the nectar from the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Virginia creeper is pollution and salt tolerant. Moderately resistant to deer damage, heat, drought, and soil compaction.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- toxic berries
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- In North Carolina, fruits are available from July to August. Blue-black berries (to 3/8” diameter) are hidden by the foliage and are often not visible until autumn leaf drop
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Greenish white flowers appear in late spring to early summer on the upper leaf axils of the Virginia creeper, but are generally hidden by the foliage and are ornamentally insignificant. In North Carolina, flowers are available from May to July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Virginia creeper has alternate, compound-palmate leaves (usually 5 saw-toothed leaflets, each leaflet to 6” long) that emerge purplish in spring, mature to dull green in summer and change to attractive shades of purple and crimson red in fall. Virginia Creeper is somewhat similar to Poison Ivy; the children's rhyme "leaves of three, let it be; leaves of five, let it thrive" helps to distinguish the two.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown with aerial roots and tendrils
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Heat
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Messy
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- May be fatal if fruit is eaten. Can result in nausea, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting, and diarrhea, dilated pupils, headache, sweating, weak pulse, drowsiness, twitching of the face.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Oxalic acid and possibly others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
