One sign of autumn is the leaves of our native Virginia creeper vine, which turn beautiful colors ranging from pink orange to maroon.
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is often mistaken for poison ivy. But they’re easy to tell apart. Virginia creeper has five leaflets, and poison ivy only three.
Do you have Virginia Creeper in your yard? It makes a great ground cover. It grows well in sun or shade and does not need fertilizer, herbicide or pesticide.
Native bees are attracted to its flowers in the spring. It’s a host plant for about 30 species of moth and butterfly caterpillars. And birds love its berries, which unfortunately are toxic to humans. If you don’t have small children who might eat its berries, Virginia creeper is a good lawn replacement.