VIRGINIA CREEPER

VIRGINIA CREEPER

Parthenocissus quinquefolia
GRAPE FAMILY (Vitaceae)

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This native vine climbs tall trees or scrambles along the ground. Mature vines reach several inches in diameter (D). The dull green leaves are palmately compound, usually with 5 coarsely toothed leaflets (A,C). The young vines and leaves are hairy. The branched tendrils end in adhesive disks (B). Only climbing plants bear flowers and fruit. The yellow-green flower clusters are inconspicuous and found higher up on the vine. The spherical fruit, first green (E), becomes dark blue (F). The leaves turn wine red in the fall (G). The similar Woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea) lacks the adhesive disks on the tendrils, and has smooth, shiny young leaves.

Grows in open woodland, flowering in May and June. In Fontenelle Forest, common, for instance along Cottonwood Trail. At Neale Woods, common along most woodland trails.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.