Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmannii

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmannii, often sold as ‘Engelmannii’, is a vigorous deciduous woody climbing vine and selected form of Virginia creeper. It has compound leaves with five serrated leaflets that are smaller and neater than the straight species, turning brilliant crimson, burgundy, orange-red, or purple-red in fall. Small, greenish, inconspicuous flowers appear in spring to early summer, followed by dark blue-black berries on red stems that are ornamental for birds but not edible for people. It climbs by tendrils with adhesive disks, so it can attach to walls, fences, arbors, tree trunks, and other surfaces without tying.

Type: Deciduous woody vine
Mature Size: 10–20 ft. wide × 30–50 ft. tall/long; height depends on support and pruning.
USDA Zones: 3a–9b
Form: Fast-growing, self-clinging, climbing or trailing vine
Light: Full sun to full shade; best fall color usually develops with more sun
Soil / Water: Adaptable to many soil types; tolerates average, moist, or periodically dry conditions once established.
Bloom Time / Length: Late spring to early summer; flowers are small and not ornamentally significant
Wildlife: Berries are relished by birds; dense vine growth can provide cover.

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for covering fences, walls, trellises, pergolas, large arbors, slopes, banks, and naturalized areas where a fast, tough vine is desired. It is especially valuable for fall color and for wildlife plantings. Because it is vigorous and self-attaching, avoid placing it where it can climb under siding, into gutters, across painted wood, or onto delicate masonry.

Care:
Plant where it has room to grow and prune regularly to control size and direction. Cut back unwanted stems in late winter or after growth begins, and remove any shoots that reach windows, rooflines, gutters, or nearby shrubs and trees. It is adaptable and low-maintenance once established, but its growth is best managed with routine clipping.

Plant type

Vine

Height

30-50'

Width

10-20'

Hardiness zones

3–9

Sunlight

Full Shade, Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Crimson

Soil

Highly Adaptable

Landscape use

Erosion control slopes, Groundcover, Trellis

Shape

Climbing

Bark

Exfoliating

Fruit

Yes

Salt tolerant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No