Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.

Ampelopsis hederacea (Ehrh.) DC. var. murorum Focke

Ampelopsis latifolia Tausch

Ampelopsis quinquefolia (L.) Michx.

Hedera quinquefolia L.

Parthenocissus hirsuta (Pursh) Graebn.

Parthenocissus inserta (Kern.) Fritsch

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. var. hirsuta (Pursh) Planch.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. var. murorum (Focke) Rehder

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. var. saintpaulii (Koehne ex Graebn.) Rehder

Psedera quinquefolia (L.) Greene

Psedera quinquefolia (L.) Greene var. murorum (Focke) Rehder

Vitis inserta Kern.

Vitis quinquefolia (L.) Lam.

Virginia creeper

About plant names...

Virginia creeper is a North American native.

Plants: These woody vines grow aggressively, moving hori­zon­tally across surfaces, or rising vertically to heights of 40' (12 m).

Leaves: Leaf clusters usually have five leaves, sometimes 3 or 7, with coarsely serrated edges, turning a beautiful shade of red in the fall. Leaves are 3-7" (7.6-17 cm) long and ¾-2" (1.9-5 cm) wide.

Flowers: Greenish-white, and inconspicuous.

Fruits: Berries are purplish black, but look as if they have been dipped in powdered sugar, so they appear lighter and powdery. Each berry is about ¼" (6.3 mm) in diameter. They are borne on short stalks that may be dull or brilliant red.

Poison ivy, another climbing vine, is occasionally confused with Virginia creeper. But poison ivy has leaves in groups of three, while Virginia creeper’s leaf clusters usually include five leaves. Don’t confuse them, because poison ivy causes a miserable rash.

Edibility: Poisonous The bitter-tasting berries contain enough oxalic acid to be poisonous to people, though some birds eat them. The rest of the plant is neither harmful nor edible. Handling the plant may trigger an allergic response.

Online References:

Parthenocissus quinquefolia on www.carolinanature.com

Parthenocissus quinquefolia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Parthenocissus quinquefolia on floridata.com

Parthenocissus quinquefolia on the Image Archive of Central Texas Plants

Parthenocissus quinquefolia on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

2/26/2005 · By Linda K. Phipps

6/8/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

9/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

8/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

10/4/2008 · Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

9/24/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 40" (79 × 102 cm)

8/4/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 2' (1 × 0.7 m)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

10/4/2008 · Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 23 × 15" (58 × 39 cm)

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

10/4/2008 · Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

9/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain

4/13/2015 · West Lake Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 21 × 31" (53 × 79 cm)

11/6/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.8 × 6.2 cm)

5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 12 × 9" (29 × 22 cm)

8/27/2014 · Rio Grande Nature Center, Albuquerque, New Mex­ico
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 16 cm)

On a strangler fig tree. · 4/14/2015 · Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 27 × 40" (67 × 101 cm)

Range: Zones 3-9:

About this map...