Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) a quick growing vine, native to eastern and central North America. It has palmately compound leaves usually with 5 leaflets. And can be confused with Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) so double check the number of leaflets that you’re seeing. Maybe what you see is not Poison Ivy, but just Virginia Creeper. Also, a bit of caution if you are actually getting into the Virginia Creeper, this vine will not give you a painful rash like you might get from Poison Ivy, but there are some people who will get skin irritation or a slight rash from the sap of Virginia Creeper.

It’s an aggressive grower, adding about 20 feet a year. Considered by many to be a weed. I have to discourage it in my gardens but in the woods it’s beautiful. In the autumn it turns a gorgeous crimson. Sometimes it turns from green to red just one leaflet at a time.

Right now, up here in the mountains there are trees that are still mostly green but there are also places where Virginia Creeper is growing, draping its crimson throughout the woods. Lovely.

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