Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Vitaceae, the grape family
How to recognize Virginia creeper. This is a woody vine (liana) with alternate palmately compound leaves. It looks sort of poison-ivy-like, but inasmuch as that itch-inducing devil is distinctly trifolioliate, they are easy to separate.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/virginia-creeper-750x500.jpg)
Virginia creeper is palmately compound, and climbs trees.
Another difference between Virginia creeper and poison ivy is the manner in which they attach themselves to trees: poison ivy with adventitious roots giving it a “hairy rope” appearance, Virginia creeper with elegant disc-tipped tendrils that resemble the feet of tree frogs.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/virginia-creeper-tendrils-750x500.jpg)
Tree frog feet!
These two lianas often grow together.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/virginia-creeper-and-poison-ivy-563x750.jpg)
Virginia creeper on the left; poison ivy right.
Here they are mingling even closer.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/virginia-creeper-and-poison-ivy-leaves-750x500.jpg)
Don’t you want to warn Virginia that they might get poison ivy?
Where to find Virginia creeper. E. Lucy Braun, in The Woody Plants of Ohio (1961, 1989; The Ohio State University Press) tells us that this species is “Widely distributed throughout the Deciduous Forest in a variety of habitats. Most conspicuous in late autumn because of the brilliant coloration of the leaves; branches of inflorescence red in late fall, contrasing with the blue-black berries.”
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Virginia-creeper-red-23Sep23-750x563.jpg)
Looking pretty red in late September!
Scanned Image from an Old Book
(Flora of West Virginia, by P.D. Strausbaugh and Earl L. Core)
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/virginia-creeper-core.jpg)
Virginia creeper
Ooh ooh. I have a question!
Jeepers it looks kinda poison-ivy-like. Set froth three differences.
Set froth? Don’t you mean set forth? Anyhow, the leaves are palmately compound; attachment is by disc-tipped tendrils; fruits are blue-black.