Virginia creeper is a creeping and high-climbing woody vine. It is native to North America and grows in many other parts of the world. Virginia creeper is also called woodbine, American ivy, and five-leaved ivy.
Virginia creeper’s strong but slender tendrils (specialized leaves) have long branches that end in tiny, sticky disks. The disks stick to surfaces on which the plant grows. A single tendril with five branches bearing these disks may hold up a weight of 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).
Virginia creeper looks somewhat like poison ivy. But the leaves of Virginia creeper have five leaflets, and those of poison ivy have three. In autumn, Virginia creeper has brilliant red leaves and bunches of dark blue berries.
