Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a woody, deciduous vine often mistaken for poison ivy. Although sometimes it grows side by side with poison ivy, it is easy to tell the difference. Poison Ivy has three leaves, Virgina Creeper has five. This vine is an extremely invasive plant here, and the sap contains oxalate crystals which cause skin irritation and a nasty allergic reaction in some people (including me). I did not plant the vine pictured below, it is native to this area and grows everywhere. It’s very, very striking and beautiful in the fall when the green leaves turn a deep and brilliant scarlet. These photos were taken this past week, and as you can see, the foliage on this vine across from my yard is already changing. I’m not sure if it’s due to the extreme drought in our area or the particular spot where this vine is growing. All of the other Virginia Creeper vines here are still mostly green, but this one stands out vividly against the woods.
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  Click on the photos to enlarge and see the brilliant color. |
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