Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
📖 About this plant
A vigorous, fast-growing deciduous vine famous for its stunning fall foliage that transforms from green to brilliant shades of crimson, burgundy, and scarlet. The compound leaves with five leaflets attach to walls and structures via adhesive disk-tipped tendrils. An excellent choice for covering large walls, fences, and arbors quickly. Tolerates shade, poor soil, and urban conditions with ease.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to full shade
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
5-30°C
Adaptable to most soils including clay and sandy; prefers well-draining loam; pH 5.0-7.5
Rarely needs fertilizer; a light application of compost in spring is usually sufficient
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Eastern and central North America
- 📏 Max height
- 500-1500 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 300-500 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Green, White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, Red in Fall
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Berries are toxic to humans and pets — contain oxalate crystals causing nausea and vomiting; sap may cause skin irritation
- 🌱 Propagation
- Softwood cuttings in summer, hardwood cuttings in winter, layering, or seed (requires cold stratification)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Berries are toxic to humans and pets — contain oxalate crystals causing nausea and vomiting; sap may cause skin irritation
Common issues
- Can damage mortar and siding on buildings
- Berries are toxic — keep away from children and pets
- Aggressive growth can overwhelm trees and shrubs
💡 Care tips
- Brilliant red fall foliage makes it a spectacular seasonal display
- Grows quickly using adhesive tendrils to climb walls and fences
- Tolerates a wide range of soil and light conditions
- Can become invasive so prune regularly to control spread
