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(Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virginia Creeper

Host Plant: Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron)

Nectar Plant: bees enjoy the nectar and birds enjoy the fruits in the fall.

Flower Color: greenish-white to greenish-yellow

Growth Habit: herbaceous vine that grows to 30-50 in length

Range in North America: Most of North America except for the far west and far north.

Exposure: Full sun to nearly full shade

Hardiness: Zones 3-11

Soil Requirements: This vine can handle most soil types in the garden.

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Greenish-white flowers of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).
AnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Victoria Creeper, Five-leaved Ivy, Five-finger, Woodbine, Carolina Creeper Vine

Description

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a herbaceous perennial vine that grows in a variety of habitats including fields, woods, gardens, fencerows, and disturbed areas. It is the host plant for the Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron). The non-showy greenish-white to greenish-yellow flowers come out in the spring and summer and the blue to black fruits in the late summer and fall. The fruits of this plant contain a high amount of oxalic acid and are poisonous to humans, but birds are fond of the fruit.

More information about this species can be found in this blog post.

Hosted Species

Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth (Darapsa myron)

Virginia Creeper Moth (Darapsa myron) on a leaf
Jacy Lucier, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many butterflies, bees, flies, ants, and beetles use this plant as a nectar source. Birds, such as the Eastern Goldfinch, eat the seeds, and some mammals eat the stems and leaves. Goldenrods in general are one of the most important nectar plants in the fall.

Range of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in the United States and Canada

Range map of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in the United States and Canada.

Habitat

Virginia Creeper is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, roadsides, and disturbed places with moist to mesic soil.

The genus name, Parthenocissus, is a combination of the Greek words parthenos (virgin) and kissos (ivy) to produce “virgin ivy.” The species name, quinquefolia, is a Latin reference to the five leaves of the plant.

Webpages

Missouri Botanical Garden

NC State Extension Service

Wikipedia

Native Location

Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun, Part Shade/Part Sun, Shade

Plant Habit

Herbaceous Vine

Soil Requirements

Dry, Medium, Moist, Wet

Hosted Species

Darapsa myron (Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth)

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Size Chart

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