Parthenocissus semicordata Seeds | Himalayan Creeper

Small, dark blue-black Himalayan Creeper seeds in a thin fleshy skin, on a plain background — Himalayan Creeper (*Parthenocissus semicordata*): Vitaceae, native to the Himalaya and the mountains of western China.

LATIN NAME: Parthenocissus semicordata

COMMON NAME: Himalayan Creeper

Plant Profile

Himalayan Creeper is a vigorous deciduous climber of the grape family, climbing by tendrils that end in small adhesive pads and can attach to stone, brick and bark. Its leaves are divided into three leaflets, glossy green in summer and turning brilliant scarlet in autumn, and its small greenish flowers are followed by clusters of dark blue-black berries.

It comes from the Himalaya and the mountains of western China, where it scrambles over rocks, walls and trees in moist, shaded valleys. It is closely related to the Virginia creeper and is often mistaken for it, though its leaves have three leaflets rather than five. The new growth is reddish and the tendrils are branched, with three to five pads at the tips.

Science & Biotechnology

The adhesive pads at the tips of the tendrils are among the strongest of any climbing plant, and they have been studied as a model for reversible adhesives. The pads secrete a glue that hardens on contact, and they can be detached and reattached, which is how the vine climbs a smooth wall without support.

Its berries contain oxalate crystals, which make them toxic to people and to dogs, though birds eat them and spread the seed. The red autumn colour comes from anthocyanins that develop as the chlorophyll breaks down, and the timing is triggered by shortening days rather than by cold. The species is one of the Asian parthenocissus, and it is hardier than the Chinese species grown for their larger leaves.

Uses & Benefits

The vine is grown to clothe walls, pergolas, tree trunks and fences, and it is one of the fastest and most reliable climbers for a large surface. Its autumn colour is spectacular, and the berries feed birds in winter.

It should be kept away from gutters, window frames and timber, since the tendrils will grow into any gap and the pads are difficult to remove without damaging the surface. The berries are not edible, and the sap can irritate the skin of sensitive people. The berries are eaten by birds in winter, and the vine provides dense cover for nesting.

Growing from Seed

Sow in autumn in a pot of loamy compost and leave it outside for the winter; the seed needs cold, moist stratification, and germination may not begin until spring or later. Sow thinly, cover lightly, and keep the pot moist.

Plant out in sun or part shade in any reasonably fertile soil, and water through the first summer. Give the vine a support or a wall from the start, and cut it back hard in winter to keep it within bounds. It is fast-growing and can cover a house wall within three or four years.

Our Take

A three-leafed creeper for a large wall, with the best scarlet autumn colour of any hardy climber. Fast, tolerant and hard to stop, so give it a surface you do not mind covering.

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