Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Family Vitaceae
Mistaken for poison ivy and killed on sight, Virginia Creeper is the innocent with five leaflets — and in October it earns its pardon, igniting whole fences in arterial scarlet while its dark berries fuel every migrating thrush in the county. Birds' food, not yours, and better for it.
Give it what few plants will take: any light from full sun to full shade, poor soil, neglect. It asks only for room — 30 to 50 feet of fence, wall, or woodline where wild is welcome. If you have that kind of space, let it run.
Full Sun to full shade
Low water
Very Fast growth
Native to North America
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing virginia creeper? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries virginia creeper — Parthenocissus quinquefolia, print Nº 498, “Virginia Creeper.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what virginia creeper actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-9Virginia Creeper · Common problems
Common virginia creeper problems
Pests
2 problems on file
- Japanese Beetles (sacrificially — better it than your roses)
- Leafhoppers
Diseases
2 problems on file
- Leaf Spot
- Mildew (cosmetic)
Virginia Creeper · Growing & propagation
Growing virginia creeper
- Light
- Full Sun to full shade
- Water
- Low — bulletproof
Soil- Any · pH 5.0 - 7.5
Fertilizer- None
Pruning- Anytime, as hard as needed
Adhesive pads climb masonry without damage mortar-wise BUT removal pulls paint; manage boundaries yearly.
Spacing- 10 ft
It needs NO help
Virginia Creeper · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Virginia Creeper · Yearly calendar
The virginia creeper year, month by month
Jan
PruneJanuary to December
BloomPrune
HarvestBloomJune
PruneJanuary to December
HarvestSeptember to November
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
- Harvest — picking time — check ripeness every few days.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Virginia Creeper · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia Creeper in the garden system
- Vine layer vine
Attracts- Bees, Birds
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
- Origin
- Native to North America
What virginia creeper is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesBerries toxic to humans/pets; some people get contact dermatitis
- Use
- Fences/walls with space
- Use
- Bird migration fuel
- Use
- Fall scarlet
Harvesting & storing virginia creeper
Berries fall (BIRDS ONLY — toxic to people).
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Virginia Creeper · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a virginia creeper variety
'Engelmannii' (smaller leaf); 'Red Wall' (selected fall color)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Plant family
- Vitaceae
- Growth habit
- Vine · Perennial
- Origin
- Native to North America
- USDA plant symbol
- PAQU2
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Questions
Virginia Creeper questions, answered straight.
Is virginia creeper safe for kids and pets?
With care. Berries toxic to humans/pets; some people get contact dermatitis Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
When do you harvest virginia creeper?
Berries fall (BIRDS ONLY — toxic to people).
Elsewhere
Where virginia creeper sits in the library.
Black Locust
Common Milkweed
Spicebush
Buttonbush