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Parthenocissus quinquefolia - (L.)Planch.

Common Name

Virginia Creeper

Family

Vitaceae

Synonyms

Ampelopsis hederacea. Hedera quinquefolia. Vitis hederacea. V. quinquefolia.

Known Hazards

Skin contact with the leaves in autumn can cause dermatitis in some people[222]. The tissues of the plant contain microscopic, irritating needle-like crystals called raphides[274].

Habitats

Woods and rocky banks[43].

Range

Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida and Mexico. A garden escape in Britain.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Climber growing to 30 m (98ft 5in) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to August, and the seeds ripen from Oct to November. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.It requires moist soil.It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover; East Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit; Root; Stem.

Fruit - raw[105, 161]. The fruit is not very well flavoured, nor is it produced very freely[K]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[200] and is carried in small bunches like grapes[K]. Stalks - cooked. They should be peeled and then boiled[105, 161]. The stalks are cut, boiled and peeled, and the sweetish substance between the bark and the wood is used for food[257]. Root - cooked[257].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Alterative; Astringent; Diuretic; Expectorant; Tonic.

The bark and fresh young shoots are aperient, alterative, emetic, expectorant and tonic[46, 61]. A hot decoction can be used as a poultice to help reduce swellings[257]. A tea made from the leaves is aperient, astringent and diuretic[222]. It is used as a wash on swellings and poison ivy rash[222, 257]. A tea made from the plant is used in the treatment of jaundice[222, 257]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea and diarrhoea[222, 257]. The fruit is useful in treating fevers[4].

Other Uses
Dye; Ground cover. A pink dye is obtained from the fruit[46, 61, 257]. The plant can be allowed to fall down banks and make a spreading ground cover[202]. They are best spaced about 3 metres apart each way[208]. They are very vigorous, however, and would soon swamp smaller plants[K].

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil[200]. Succeeds in most soils, preferring full sun but tolerating semi-shade[202]. Best if grown in semi-shade on an east or west facing wall[200]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[4]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -25°c[200], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant[1], it is self-supporting on walls by means of adhesive tendrils[11, 182]. Very fast growing, though it often does not grow very much in its first year or two after planting out[202]. When established, it can send out new growth 6 metres long in a year[4]. The plant can, however, become a nuisance by climbing into gutters[182]. Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be cut right back to the base if required to rejuvenate the plant[202]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[219]. The fruit is normally only produced after a long hot summer[219]. There are several named varieties[182].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200]. Stored seed requires stratifying for 6 weeks at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[200]. Germination is variable. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm taken at a node (ensure that it has at least 2 true buds), July/August in a frame[78]. Easy to root but they do not always survive the first winter[182]. Basal hardwood cuttings of current seasons growth, 10 - 12 cm long, autumn in a frame[200]. Layering[200]. Plants often self-layer[202].

Expert comment

Author
(L.)Planch.

Botanical References
1143200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[43]Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany.

A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[161]Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237.

A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.

[182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.

Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202]Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs.

Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover

An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[219]Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls

A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.

A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany

Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
John Pirog	Wed Jul 14 20:38:17 2004

Several other sites on the web state that the berries of Parthenocissus quinquefolia are poisonous. I would be cautious about using them as a food source, as the two references in this page recommend.

Elizabeth H.
swapan gandhi	Fri Mar 25 17:20:07 2005

Ive drunk the sap of the vine before with no ill effects. There is a substance in the bark wich when chewed makes your mouth and toung tingle. (it may be small ammounts of Calcium oxalate crystals). Both the Bark and the young shoots contain substantial ammounts of mucilage. Young shoots also contain an acidic substance. As the wood is verry soft and pulpy it is a good source of fibre for paper production.

Elizabeth H.
chris daugherty	Tue Mar 14 2006

I have also seen in other manuals that the fruits are toxic and can be fatal if eaten in large enough amounts.

Elizabeth H.
Kati	Mon Jul 17 2006

This is a highly dangerous toxic plant that shouldn't be planted anywhere. You might not be sensitive to it but you have no way of knowing, who of your family of friends will get a reaction. I will try to get rid of mine in my backyard, it is growing there as a weed in my pachysandra. I will try the vinegar trick. I'm currently suffering from the itchy and blistery, oozing effects of accidentally getting in contact with it. I strongly recommend to try to kill it if you have it.

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