Practical
Plants

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia Creeper

a deciduous member of the Parthenocissus genus in the family Vitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Vitaceae
Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
30 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Skin contact with the leaves in autumn can cause dermatitis in some people[10]. The tissues of the plant contain microscopic, irritating needle-like crystals called raphides[12].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw[2][4]. The fruit is not very well flavoured, nor is it produced very freely[K]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[6] and is carried in small bunches like grapes[K]. Stalks - cooked. They should be peeled and then boiled[2][4]. The stalks are cut, boiled and peeled, and the sweetish substance between the bark and the wood is used for food[11]. Root - cooked[11].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark and fresh young shoots are aperient, alterative, emetic, expectorant and tonic[15][16]. A hot decoction can be used as a poultice to help reduce swellings[11]. A tea made from the leaves is aperient, astringent and diuretic[10]. It is used as a wash on swellings and poison ivy rash[10][11]. A tea made from the plant is used in the treatment of jaundice[10][11]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea and diarrhoea[10][11]. The fruit is useful in treating fevers[13].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A pink dye is obtained from the fruit[15][16][11]. The plant can be allowed to fall down banks and make a spreading ground cover[7]. They are best spaced about 3 metres apart each way[8]. They are very vigorous, however, and would soon swamp smaller plants[K].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida and Mexico. A garden escape in Britain.
Habitat
Woods and rocky banks[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[6]. Stored seed requires stratifying for 6 weeks at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[6]. 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[17]. Easy to root but they do not always survive the first winter[5]. Basal hardwood cuttings of current seasons growth, 10 - 12 cm long, autumn in a frame[6]. Layering[6]. Plants often self-layer[7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil[6]. Succeeds in most soils, preferring full sun but tolerating semi-shade[7]. Best if grown in semi-shade on an east or west facing wall[6]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[13]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -25°c[6], 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[3][5]. Very fast growing, though it often does not grow very much in its first year or two after planting out[7]. When established, it can send out new growth 6 metres long in a year[13]. The plant can, however, become a nuisance by climbing into gutters[5]. Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be cut right back to the base if required to rejuvenate the plant[7]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[9]. The fruit is normally only produced after a long hot summer[9]. There are several named varieties[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  7. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  9. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  12. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  17. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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