Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
It climbs using tendrils with adhesive pads that secrete a natural cement, allowing it to stick to flat walls without penetrating the masonry.
- Scientific name
- Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Vitales › Vitaceae › Parthenocissus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, woodland edges, rocky cliffs, and urban areas
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- Eastern North America, Central North America, Mexico
- Size
- Vines can grow 20 to 30 meters (60 to 100 feet) in length
- Lifespan
- 20 to 50 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat clearing, herbicide use, and extreme urbanization, though it remains highly resilient.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to look at, but handle with care. The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation; wash skin with soap and water if exposed. Never ingest the berries, as they are highly toxic to humans.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia , known as Virginia creeper , Victoria creeper , five-leaved ivy , or five-finger , is a species of flowering plant in the grape family, Vitaceae. It is native to eastern and central North America, from southeastern Canada and the eastern United States west to Manitoba and Utah, and south to eastern Mexico and Guatemala.
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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