WSU Clark County Extension
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Virginia Creeper

Scientific name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Taxonomy
Family:Vitaceae
Type:Groundcovers Herbaceus
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:3 to 9
Sun:Full to partial sun
Plant Characteristics
Height:30 ft
Width:30 ft
Bloom:Summer flowers
Bloom Color:Yellow
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Virginia Creeper is an East Coast native. It is raised for its brilliant fall foliage and ability to make an excellent ground cover as long as it contained and not allowed to climb trees, fences or structures. Also known as woodbine.

  Morphology:
This is a broadleaf deciduous vine that can grow to a length of 30’-50’. Leaves are arranged in a compound, palmate fashion with five leaflets radiating out from a leaf petiole like spokes on a wheel. Individual leaflets are 3”-7” long and 1”-2” wide. Leaf margins are coarsely serrated. Tendrils emerge along the leaf petioles. With sticky adhesive discs at the ends of the tendrils, Virginia Creeper can climb plants and surfaces.

Flowers form in early summer. Each flower is ¼” wide and are yellow-green. Later in the summer flowers morph to 1/3” berries which mature to fleshy blue berries which each have 2 seeds.

  Adaptation:
The preference is partial sun, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a soil containing loam or clay-loam. This plant is widely adapted to most sites, thus making it potentially invasive.

  Pests:
None reported.
For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 5701
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