Family: Vitaceae

The Virginia creeper vine is very common in Ohio, often seen climbing up trees. It can climb tree trunks as high as 50 feet and it is very weather tolerant. This plant is often confused with poison ivy. Both plants are flowering, have similarly shaped leaves, and are climbing vines.

The easiest way to tell the difference between these vines is by the number of leaflets. Virginia creeper has five leaflets, while poison ivy has three.

No known problems or diseases are known to be associated with this plant. It has been used in gardens as a ground cover or to cover the sides of garden walls. Its colors are vibrant red in the fall.

 

References:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=l490

http://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/