| General Description | Is a deciduous, hardy vine native to China. Chinese Virginia Creeper is has green leaves that later turn into a reddish purple foliage in autumn. The foliage hides pretty greenish-white flowers that produce blue-black berries that are only visible after the leaves drop. It is very attractive to birds. A self-clinging plant but may need some support to start off and will grow just about anywhere. |
| ID Characteristic | Has bright silver veins, and green foliage that transitions to a reddish purple. Five lobed or palmate leaves hiding greenish-white flowers. Grows blue-black berries that are only visible after the leaves are dropped. It loses its foliage in the winter. |
| Shape | A climbing spreading vine. |
| Landscape | Will grow just about anywhere you plant it. Self-clinging so good for walls on houses and tall fences. Looks nice in a group environment with other plants like Cobaea scandens f. alba, Campsis ‘Indian Summer’ and Eccremocarpus scaber. It is an effective ground cover as well. Best suited for a smaller garden. |
| Propagation | Propagate by layering or hardwood cuttings. Hardwood cuttings may be taken while the plant is dormant. |
| Cultivation | Is a very tolerant plant. For the best autumn colour, lay in partial shade. It thrives in any type of soil but works best in well-drained soil. It does not require a specific pH level. |
| Pests | Virtually disease free but may experience glasshouse red spider mite and vine weevil. |
| Habitat | Not a fussy plant and tolerates wide range of conditions. Performs best in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. Although tolerates full shade, the best autumn colour occurs in sunny locations. Lives well in United Kingdom and parts of Asia. |
| Bark/Stem Description | A woody plant so the stems are like small reddish-brown twigs connecting each other to the main stem. It has smooth bark. A purple cast to the underside of the leaves and petiole. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Round purple balls that are shown after the leaves have dropped. Look like blue berries on the end of a reddish twig. |
| Leaf Description | A deeply divided green leaf with 3-5 leaflets that turns to reddish foliage in the autumn. It is a deciduous plant so it loses its lobed or palmate leaves in the winter season giving the spot light to the flowers. |
| Flower Description | Begins flowering in spring to late summer to produce tiny yellow-greenish flowers. |
| Fruit Description | Has dark blue fruits that grow in clusters during the autumn and have slight toxicity but not harmful to humans and animals. Birds love to eat them. |
| Colour Description | Green foliage in summer with a silvery vein structure. Foliage turns to a reddish purple in autumn. Best colour is produced with some sun in a partial shade environment. |
| Texture Description | A velvety texture with almost serrated leaves. |