Virginia Creeper is a common woody vine throughout North Carolina. This flowering specimen was hanging down from 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 a common woody vine throughout North Carolina. This flowering specimen was hanging down from 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. Durham, NC 6/14/2002. |
| It's easy to see from the flowers that Virginia Creeper is in the grape family. Durham, NC 6/14/2002. |
| Columbus Co., NC 7/19/03. |
| The blue fruits look like miniature grapes, but are poisonous. Though the fruits are not good for humans to eat, they are enjoyed by many species of birds and other wildlife. Durham, NC 9/11/08. |
| Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06. |
| Carroll Co., VA 10/15/05. |
| Carroll Co., VA 10/15/05. |
| New Hanover Co., NC 8/29/09. |
| Currituck Co., NC 11/8/08. |
| 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
All photographs and text ©2010 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated.