Parthenocissus tricuspidata - Boston Ivy (Vitaceae) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pathenocissus tricuspidata is a lush and vigorous Fruits climbing vine with glossy summer foliage and rich -clusters of small bluish-black grape fruits yellow, red, and burgundy autumn foliage. -readily eaten by the birds -usually hidden by the foliage FEATURES -maturing in Sept.-Oct. Form Twigs -large -heavily lenticeled and bumpy, with holdfasts for stone, climbing brick, wood, or bark attachment semi-woody Trunk vine -not applicable -maturing at least to the USAGE height and Function width of the -structural cover structure upon Texture which it -medium texture in foliage and when bare climbs, -thick density sometimes Assets over 100' -rapid growth climbing vine -dense foliage growth habit -excellent autumn color -rapid growth Liabilities rate (3-10' per -may cover windows, doors, and wire mesh screens year once Habitat established) -Zone 3 Culture -Native to Central China -prefers full sun to partial sun in moist, well-drained soils, but is tolerant of a wide range of urban stresses, SELECTIONS including heat, drought, high light reflection, poor Alternates soils, thin soils, compacted soils, restricted root zones, -large and vigorous vines with a solid anchoring soils of variable pH, and heavy pruning system, and especially utilized for the cover of stone or -virtually no disease or pest problems of significance brick buildings in environmental conditions ranging -moderate availability, usually as a young vine staked or from full sun to full shade (Hedera helix, Parthenocissus trellised in containers quinquefolia) Foliage -climbing vines with excellent autumn color -emerging bronzed, (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) changing to a medium Cultivars - Variants - Related species then dark green, with very -several selected based on foliage size, shape, and glossy upper surfaces, to autumn color 6" wide -Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper -each leaf has 3 prominent (image below) - functionally identical to Boston Ivy, lobes, or sometimes is so but with duller, lighter green summer foliage that is 5- deeply sinuate that it leaflet in form, with palmate leaflet attachment to the forms 3 leaflets at the top petiole via petiolules of the petiole -coarsely serrated (almost dentate), having acuminate apices on the lobes, with a 4" long petiole, and with the leaf blades parallel to the structure upon which the vine is climbing -brilliant glossy yellow, orange, scarlet, crimson, and/or wine autumn color begins in Sept. and abscises in Oct. sometimes with the petioles remaining attached for a week or 2 to the stems after the leaflets have abscised Flowers -small -greenish -hidden by the foliage -June-July.