Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a vigorous native climbing vine grown from wild-type Middle Tennessee stock — one of the earliest plants to turn each fall, with palmate five-leaflet foliage that shifts to brilliant scarlet, crimson, and burgundy well before most of the surrounding canopy changes color.
This vine punches well above its weight for wildlife. It's a larval host plant for four named sphinx moths — Abbott's Sphinx, Pandorus Sphinx, Virginia Creeper Sphinx, and White-lined Sphinx — plus the specialist Virginia Creeper Clearwing moth. Its small summer flowers draw bees and other pollinators, and its dark blue-black berries feed more than 35 bird species through fall and winter, including chickadees, cedar waxwings, thrushes, warblers, and woodpeckers. Dense foliage also provides cover and nesting structure for small birds and mammals.
Virginia Creeper climbs by adhesive tendril disks rather than twining or boring into surfaces, making it well-suited to trellises, fences, rock piles, and arbors. It's a fast, energetic grower — plan for the space it needs, and prune as necessary to keep it in bounds.
Safety note: Berries are toxic to humans if ingested, and sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Keep away from children and pets who may be tempted to sample the fruit; the plant is not toxic to browsing wildlife.
Growing conditions:
- Light: Full sun to full shade; best fall color in more sun
- Water: Adaptable, moist to dry, well-drained soil
- Growth habit: Fast, vigorous climber via adhesive tendrils; can reach 30–50+ feet
- Support: Provide a trellis, fence, or structure to climb, or allow to trail as groundcover
Size: Shipped in a 4" container, established root system ready to transplant.
Shipping: Orders ship out UPS every Monday