Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy are absolute favorites for adding some serious curb appeal to gardens and balconies. While they look a lot like your typical grapevine, don’t let the resemblance fool you! Unlike the grapes you’d find at a vineyard, the berries on these ornamental vines are definitely not for snacking.
Quick Facts at a Glance
I’ve rounded up the most important facts about these climbers to give you a quick “cheat sheet” for your garden planning.
- Botanically speaking, these plants belong to the genus *Parthenocissus*. Depending on who you ask, you might hear them called Virginia Creeper, Boston Ivy, or Woodbine.
- They are part of the *Vitaceae* family, which makes them cousins to the common grapevine.
- The most popular varieties you’ll run into are the Virginia Creeper (five-leaved), the Woodbine (self-climbing), and the Boston Ivy (three-lobed).
- While they originally hail from East Asia (China, Korea, Japan) and North America, they’ve become a staple in gardens all across Europe and the US.
- These are vigorous climbing plants. They can reach heights of up to 65 feet and spread out about 13 feet wide.
- Most varieties are “self-clinging,” meaning they have little suction-cup tendrils that help them climb walls on their own.
- They are the go-to choice for covering walls, fences, and facades, but they also work surprisingly well as a lush groundcover.
- For the best results, pick a spot that ranges from full sun to partial shade. They love soil that is rich in nutrients and has a bit of organic matter mixed in.
- These plants are hardy perennials, meaning they’ll come back year after year and can handle chilly winters.
- If you want more of them, propagation is pretty easy via cuttings or layering.
- Depending on the variety, the leaves will have either three or five distinct leaflets.
- They bloom in mid-summer (June and July), but the flowers are pretty tiny and inconspicuous, usually in a yellowish-green hue.
- In the fall, they produce small dark berries. While they look interesting, they are strictly off-limits for eating!
Don’t Mix Them Up with Edible Grapes!
It’s super important not to confuse these ornamental vines with actual grapevines. While garden grapes are delicious and sweet, the berries on Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy are toxic to humans. If you have little ones or curious pets running around, make sure to plant these vines in a spot where the berries won’t be easily reached to avoid any accidental ingestion.
