Practical
Plants

Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston Ivy

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

Sap - sweet[4]. The sap flows quite freely when it is harvested in the spring, as the plant comes into new growth, and can be used as a sugar substitute[2].

Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Sweetener

Material uses

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

This species can be grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[6]. Plants should be spaced about 2.5 metres apart each way[9]. They are very vigorous, however, and would soon swamp smaller plants[K].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. A garden escape in Britain.
Habitat
Thickets and woods in hills and mountains[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
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[7]. Stored seed requires stratifying for 6 weeks at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[7]. 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[12]. 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[7]. Layering[7].

Cultivation

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

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil[7]. Succeeds in any fertile soil in sun or part shade[8]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -15°c[7], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant[1], there are several named varieties[5]. The flowers are only produced on mature stems[8] and plants usually only fruit after a long hot summer[10]. A rampant climbing plant, clinging by means of round pad-like suckers on the tendrils[3]. It can become a bit of a nuisance by growing into gutters[5]. Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be cut right back to within 1 metre of the base if required to rejuvenate the plant[8]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[10]. Dislikes transplanting[3], plants often put on very little growth in the year after planting out, though they are then fast growing[8]. Plants often hybridize and so do not always come true from seed[7].

References

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  11. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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

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