Virginia creeper
ExplorePlants
Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper is a climbing plant with beautiful green leaves that turn bright red in the fall. It loves to grow on walls and fences, making it look like a green blanket!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Virginia creeper is a climbing vine with distinctive palmate leaves, usually featuring five leaflets that radiate from a central point. Its foliage changes from green to vibrant reds, oranges, and purples in the autumn, often producing dark blue-black berries. It attaches to surfaces using small, disc-like adhesive pads.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderVitalesFamilyVitaceaeGenusParthenocissus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
91
Interesting facts
Each leaf usually has five leaflets, a great way to tell it apart from the three-leaf poison ivy!
Its berries contain irritating oxalic acid, so humans should never eat them, even though birds do!
This speedy climber can grow over three meters in a single year, quickly covering fences and walls!
Tiny green flowers attract bees, which help create the dark berries that many birds feast on.
Special abilities
Ability
Super Climber
Virginia creeper can scale walls and trees using tiny, sticky adhesive pads on its tendrils that grip surfaces firmly.
Ability
Autumn Signal
Virginia creeper has leaves that turn brilliant red in fall, helping animals spot its dark berries, a winter food source.
Ability
Tough Survivor
Virginia creeper has flexible stems and strong roots, helping it thrive in many different tough environments.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-2000 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.8 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
eats ripe berries
eaten by
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
consumes its fruit
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
visits small flowers
shelters
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
nests in dense vines
Traits
Climbing/Vine
Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Five-leafed IvyVirginia Creepers
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
While Virginia creeper is pretty, it's best to avoid eating its berries, as they can upset your tummy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Virginia creeper?
The easiest way to identify Virginia creeper is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Virginia creeper?
100-2000 cm
How big are the flowers on Virginia creeper?
0.3-0.8 cm
When does Virginia creeper bloom?
Summer
Is Virginia creeper edible?
No
Is Virginia creeper toxic?
Mild
What is Virginia creeper's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Virginia creeper pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Jun 7, 2026
East Windsor Hill Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Mark Apgar, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
Fruitvalei
Photo attribution
(c) geotrope, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
East Windsor Hill Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Mark Apgar, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 30, 2026
Quaker Farms Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Jessica Utrup, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 17, 2026
South Mountain Reservationi
Photo attribution
(c) Tom Pollard, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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