The Virgina Creeper, one of the hardiest perennial vines to grow in the garden...

This image was taken from my peninsula garden

About The Virgina Creeper

The Virgina Creeper is one of the fastest growing perennial vines. Once established, it can withstand long dry spells.

I never planted this vine. When we first acquired our new garden, one area (which is now our large pond) was covered with this vine. It was orginally planted as a rgroundcover, which is really something that I discourage as this vine tends to die off towards the fall time (turning brown), thus making a garden look untidy. Since our new big pond was to be created exactly where the Virgina orginally lay, we dug it out and used the dirt to create the island peninsula (in the image below).

After building up the peninsula with all kinds of dirt and even after laying down landscaping fabric, this hardy vine poked its way through the fabric and grew to cover the entire peninsula. Every year more and more vines poke through the fabric.

Coverage can be over-whelming so be prepared to snip off some of the 'leaders' that pop up. If left alone, these leaders will easily find the ground and plant themselves. Just give a good tug from the exposed end and it will come away from the ground. Snip anywhere along the vine.

I actually took some of the sniped vines and transplated them alongside the stone by the waterfall. It took one season, but the vine now covers the sides of the waterfall.

The above image shows the color changes to the Virgina Creeper. The green leaves become vibrant oranges, purple and reds.

By the end of the gardening season, much of the new growth found its way into the pond and wanted to root. I managed to cut back a good portion of each leader.

Because this vine grows so quickly and is so hardy, I planted another one at the east end of the smaller pond and hopefully it will curve and bend its way through the large boulders.

I read in a gardening magazine that this vine is poisonous. The same article mentioned that it can give a person a rash if handled. In the years that I have grown this vine, I have never received a rash.

In the fall the vine turns a magnificent red and orange and the berries are enjoyed by all of the birds who frequent our yard.

Great companion plants: Astilbe, Golden Elder, Becky Shasta Daisy or the Euonymus Emerald Gold.

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Virgina Creeper Features

• grows in full sun, shade. The perfect vine
• grows in sand or clay soil
• drought tolerant and can handle damp conditions
• this is a vine lives where no other vine will survive
• can grow 6 to 10 feet per year, but not in the first year of planting. It's a little stubborn in its first year
• leaves turn a brilliant red in the fall with berries for the birds

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