Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Vining: 30-50′ tall (with support.)

Flowering: mid-late August

Fruiting: September

Birds: thrushes, woodpeckers, vireos, and warblers.

 

CAUTION: VIRGINIA CREEPER FRUITS ARE POISONOUS. The fruits can produce symptoms including: Nausea, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and diarrhea, dilated pupils, headache, sweating, weak pulse, drowsiness, twitching of face.

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***Though considered poisonous, it is generally thought that it is not possible for a human to consume enough of the fruit to cause serious harm due to the bad flavor***

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Virginia creeper (also know as woodbine) is a deciduous, woody vine with a vigorous, tendril-climber that needs no support and typically grows 30-50′. Adheres to flat surfaces (e.g., brick, stone or wood walls) via adhesive disks at the tendril ends. Compound-palmate leaves emerge purplish in spring, mature to dull green in summer and change to purple to crimson-red in autumn. Fall color can be quite attractive. Clusters of small, greenish-white flowers appear in the upper leaf axils in late spring to early summer, but are generally hidden by the foliage. Flowers give way to dark blue to black berries in September–October, which are attractive to birds.