Virginia-creeper
Virginia-creeper, clusters of flowers
Close-up of flowers - 5 stamens and
a capitate stigma on a broad style
Palmate leaves autumn colour
Smaller leaves in autumn
Climbing stems stuck to a wall in Dorset
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Vitaceae
July
It is planted throughout England as a climber over
stonework and for its autumn colour.
Naturalised escapes are scattered throughout, but are
most common in southern counties.
See the BSBI distribution map for Virginia-creeper
It is a neophyte, which was introduced in the 1620s and
recorded in the wild in the 1920s.
It grows in hedgerows and beside railways and roads.
Virginia-creeper is a woody, self-clinging, perennial climber
growing up to 20m.
Flowers are in clusters up the stem.
They are small, with 5 green-yellow petals and 5 white
anthers.
The style is bottle shaped and the stigma capitate.
The fruits are like small grapes.
Leaves are palmate with 5 or 6 different-sized,
toothed leaflets.
Smaller leaves are heart-shaped and pointed.
Leaves are green in late spring turning to red and
purple in the autumn.
Virginia-creeper has tendrils with an adhesive disc
for attachment to surfaces.
Stems are robust and woody.
Previous page: Upright Hedge-parsley
Next page: Water Mint
Virginia-creeper, clusters of flowers
Close-up of flowers - 5 stamens and
a capitate stigma on a broad style
Palmate leaves autumn colour
Smaller leaves in autumn
Climbing stems stuck to a wall in Dorset
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