Virginia Creeper is one of our most common vines. This fine flowering specimen was hanging down from the pine trees at the edge of the BioSci parking lot at Duke.
Durham, NC 6/14/2002.
Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rhamnales>Vitaceae>Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.
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| Virginia Creeper is one of our most common vines. This fine flowering specimen was hanging down from the pine trees at the edge of the BioSci parking lot at Duke. Durham, NC 6/14/2002. |
| The palmately compound leaves are not similar to those of any other local vine. |
| It's easy to see from the flowers that Virginia Creeper is in the grape family. |
| The fruits are not good for humans to eat, but are enjoyed by many species of birds and other wildlife. Columbus Co., NC 7/19/03. |
| The blue fruits look like miniature grapes. Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06. |
| Carroll Co., VA 10/15/05. |
| Carroll Co., VA 10/15/05. |
| Bark detail. Mecklenburg Co., VA 5/2/06. |
| Virginia Creeper can take over entire trees or even buildings, though unlike certain other rambunctious vines (the native Trumpet Creeper and exotic invasive English Ivy, Japanese Honeysuckle, Kudzu, and Chinese Wisteria), it is easy to keep under control. Mecklenburg Co., VA 5/2/06. |
More information:
Floridata
NC State - Poisonous Plants
USDA PLANTS database
Revised 1/23/07 cwcook@duke.edu
All photographs and text ©2007 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated.