Parthenocissus quinquefolia Seeds | Virginia Creeper

Small, black Virginia Creeper seeds with a hard, shiny coat, on a plain background — Virginia Creeper (*Parthenocissus quinquefolia*): Vitaceae, native to the woods and riverbanks of eastern North America.

LATIN NAME: Parthenocissus quinquefolia

COMMON NAME: Virginia Creeper

Plant Profile

Virginia Creeper is a vigorous deciduous climber of the grape family, with palmately divided leaves of five leaflets that are green in summer and turn crimson and purple in autumn. It climbs by tendrils that end in adhesive pads, and its small greenish flowers are followed by clusters of dark blue-black berries on red stalks.

It comes from the woods and riverbanks of eastern North America, where it climbs trees and covers stone walls, and it has been planted across Europe and beyond for its autumn colour. In parts of Europe it has escaped and is now listed as invasive, since it seeds freely and its stems root where they touch the ground.

Science & Biotechnology

The five leaflets are the easiest way to tell it from poison ivy, which has three, though the two are often confused by people who have not looked closely. Its berries contain oxalic acid and calcium oxalate crystals, and they are toxic to people and to dogs, although birds eat them and disperse the seed.

Its autumn colour is one of the most reliable in the plant kingdom, and the pigments responsible have been studied as a source of natural red dyes. The tendril pads, like those of its relatives, have attracted interest from materials scientists working on reversible adhesives. The species reached Europe in 1629, and it has been planted on walls ever since.

Uses & Benefits

The vine is grown for its autumn colour and for the speed with which it covers a wall, a fence or a pergola, and it is one of the best plants for a north-facing surface. The berries feed birds in winter, and the dense growth provides nesting cover.

It should be kept away from gutters, wooden cladding and window frames, since the tendrils work their way into any gap. The berries are not edible, and the sap can cause a rash in sensitive people, so gloves are advisable when cutting it back. It is also useful for covering an unsightly shed or a north wall where little else will grow.

Growing from Seed

Sow in autumn in a pot of loamy compost and leave it outside through winter; cold, moist conditions break the dormancy, and germination may be spread over two springs. Sow thinly and keep the pot moist but not waterlogged.

Plant out in sun or shade in any soil, and water through the first summer. Cut the vine back hard in winter to keep it within its allotted space, and remove any stems that are growing into gutters or under roof tiles. It is very fast-growing and can cover a wall within three years. Water it in dry spells during its first summer, and after that it looks after itself.

Our Take

The five-leafed creeper that turns a wall crimson in October, and one of the easiest climbers to grow. It needs a firm hand with the secateurs, but it asks for nothing else.

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