Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:

It is a hardy plant that can survive in various conditions where other similar plants (Boston Ivy or Japanese Ivy) cannot. Prefers full sun to part shade, tolerates full shade, moist well drained soil, sand, or clay, tolerates most climates and habitats. 

Growth Habit/Description:

Deciduous creeper and vine that climbs/grows up to 50ft rapidly. Uses adhesive tendrils that grip to surfaces. New leaves are bronze, purplish, or green tinted with red, palmate ovate leaflets in groups of 5.

Bloom Season:

Small, hidden green pods bloom in late spring or early summer, revealing 5 stamens with large yellow anthers.

Small, green to blue-black berries form in late summer or early fall, and become a food source.

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

Yes; In the fall, the leaves turn a rich red or purple color which is beautiful, and in the winter the vine provides berries for animals despite being leafless.

Host Plant for Caterpillars?

Yes, the Virginia Creeper is a larval host for many species of sphinx moth including, Abbott's Sphinx Moth (Sphecodina abbottii), Pandora Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus), Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron), White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata).

Other Known Ecological Value?

Yes; The berries become an important source of food for songbirds in the winter, and deer, squirrels, skunks, and other small animals. Most mammals, however, cannot eat the berries (including us) due to toxicity from oxalic acid. Bees use the small flowers for nectar.  It is fed on by Japanese beetles and some native beetles.

Danger and Poision Ivy: 

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Virginia Creeper are often confused for each other due to their similar appearance. This is the rhyme "leaves of three, let it be; leaves of five, let it thrive". However, the Virginia Creeper can cause lesions and rash similar to Poison Ivy for some. Its berries are also incredibly dangerous for majority of mammals, including humans. It has possible side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, headache, sweating, weak pulse, drowsiness, twitching of the face, and fatality when digested. 

Prolific Growth: 

Virginia Creeper is known to cover entire houses, walls, telephone poles, and anything it can climb due to its hardiness and tolerance of any level of sun/shade. The tendrils it uses to grip onto walls has adhesive that can take off paint and leave marks if the vines are not properly controlled.

Name Origin: 

Parthenocissus comes from Greek and means "virgin ivy",  quinquefolia means "five-leaved". "Quinque", "five" and "folia", "foliage" or "leaves".

North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Raleigh (NC): North Carolina State University. Parthenocissus quinquefolia. [Cited 2023, Sept 7]. Available from: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/parthenocissus-quinquefolia/ 

Mahr, Susan. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin – Madison. Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia.  [Cited 2023, Sept 5].  Available from: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/virginia-creeper-parthenocissus-quinquefolia/ 

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database. Austin (TX). Parthenocissus quinquefolia.  [Cited 2023, Sept 7]. Available from: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=paqu2 

Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 292, 324

Jaglowicz et Shipp. Virginia Creeper Phytodermatitis.  Consultant360. Danville (PA). [Cited 2023, Sept 7]. Available from: https://www.consultant360.com/articles/virginia-creeper-phytodermatitis

Last edited by Kira Marshall, September 2023.