Parthenocissus quinquefolia seed
LATIN NAME: PARTHENOCISSUS QUINQUEFOLIA
COMMON NAME: Virginia Creeper
In the woods and the old walls of the east, the Virginia creeper climbs as a vigorous, woody vine with the palmately compound leaves of five toothed leaflets and the small, greenish flowers in the summer, the clusters of small, blue-black berries following, the whole canopy turning a brilliant scarlet in the autumn. It climbs quickly by the branching tendrils, and it stands the cold winters and the ordinary, well-drained soils well. Full sun is ideal, in deep, fertile ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Virginia creeper appears in the studies of the climbing vines of the east, its five leaflets and its autumn scarlet keeping it in view in the work on the wall-covering vines of the cold garden and the wildlife plants of the woodland edge. The research looks at the way the tendrils grip the wall, the blue-black berries feed the birds, and the seed biology of the hard seeds within the berries.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the garden, the Virginia creeper turns the wall and the fence into a sheet of scarlet in the autumn and feeds the birds with the blue-black berries. The vigorous vine covers a bare wall in a few seasons, and the plant makes the fine wall cover, the autumn vine and the plant of the cold, open garden. It is a plant for the sunny or shaded, deep and well-drained place.
To grow the Virginia Creeper from seed, wash the seeds from the blue-black berries and sow them at once.
Wash the seeds from the blue-black berries and sow them at once, and keep the young creepers in the open, sunny spot. on leafy soil, keep them lightly watered, and the young creepers come up in the open, sunny spot. The leaves turn scarlet with the autumn.
LATIN NAME: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
COMMON NAME: Virginia Creeper, Five-leaved Ivy
Virginia creeper is a climber that puts on one of the finest shows of autumn colour in the garden. It is a vigorous, woody vine that climbs walls, fences and trees by means of small, adhesive pads on its tendrils, covering large areas with its handsome foliage. The leaves are composed of five leaflets radiating from a single stalk, bright green through summer, then turning brilliant shades of scarlet, crimson and orange in autumn, so vivid that a wall covered in the plant seems to be on fire. In late summer it bears clusters of small, dark blue-black berries, much loved by birds. It is a tough, fast-growing plant that gives a dramatic display with very little care.
Virginia creeper belongs to the grape family, Vitaceae, and it is native to eastern North America, where it grows in woods and along the edges of forests. It is a hardy, adaptable climber that thrives in sun or shade and in almost any soil, and it has been grown as an ornamental across the temperate world.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing Virginia creeper from seed is easy and gives good results. The seeds ripen inside the dark berries in autumn, and they need a period of cold, moist conditions to germinate, so clean the seeds from the berries, sow them in pots of moist compost, and leave them outdoors through winter, or chill them in the fridge for two to three months first. In spring, bring the pots to a bright spot and keep them moist. Germination can be slow and uneven, with seedlings appearing over several weeks, so be patient. Pot the young vines on as they grow, giving them support, and plant them out against a wall, fence or trellis in a sheltered spot. In a few seasons your seed-raised vine will be climbing and putting on that spectacular autumn display.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Virginia creeper has a genuine place in botanical and horticultural research. Its ability to climb smooth surfaces with adhesive pads has made it a subject of study in plant biology, where researchers examine how climbing plants attach, grow and support themselves, knowledge that has even inspired research into adhesives and climbing robotics. In ecology, the plant is studied for its role in supporting wildlife, since its berries feed many species of birds, and it is recommended in research on wildlife-friendly gardening. It is also of interest in studies of ornamental climbing plants, valued for its vigorous growth, its shade tolerance and its outstanding autumn colour. For a plant that simply climbs and glows, Virginia creeper has a surprising and interesting record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, Virginia creeper is a gift to wildlife. Its dark berries feed birds through autumn and winter, its dense cover gives shelter and nesting sites, and its autumn leaves provide food and cover for insects.
Its economic value lies mainly in ornamental horticulture. It is one of the most popular climbing plants for covering walls, fences and pergolas, valued for its vigorous growth, its shade tolerance and its spectacular autumn colour, and it is widely used in gardens and public planting. For a grower, Virginia creeper is a dependable, fast-selling climber, and for a gardener it is one of the easiest ways to cover a wall with a blaze of autumn colour.
Parthenocissus Quinquefolia
Virginia creeper, five-leaved ivy
Climber plants
Beautiful deep red to burgundy fall foliage!
PARTHENOCISSUS quinquefolia Seeds
Virginia Creeper
Family: Vitaceae Characteristics: Deciduous vine to 15 metres
Description
This vigorous climber native to Japan and China has gorgeous glossy deeply lobed dark green leaves which turn spectacular shades of red-purple in autumn. It will quickly romp along a large north or east-facing wall. An attractive vine that requires plenty of space or regular pruning.
Prefers a light to medium well-drained soil in an open sunny position, frost resistant but drought tender.
Recommended method of sowing:
Cold stratify recommended. Sow seed in a moist mix as normal in small containers or punnets. Place containers in a plastic bag and cold stratify in the refrigerator of 28-42 days. Seed should germination readily when moved to room temperatures.