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Tim Downie · 08-07-2009, 10:20 AM posted to uk.d-i-y,uk.rec.gardening

Charlie Pridham wrote:
In article ,
says...
Having sweated blood in removing a common ivy that was growing up
the gable of our house, I'd now like to train a Virginia creeper up
there instead.

There's been a VC growing by the gable end for some time but it's
never been able to get a good enough grip on the painted pebbledash
to gain any height. What's the best thing to train it up? Trellis,
plastic mesh, vine eyes & wire or something else?

If you have true Virginia creeper (parthenocissus quinquefolia) then
it will require some help to stay up there as it becomes woody and
heavy and will rip off the wall, a few wires and vine eyes should be
enough. If however you have what is often called wrongly virginia
creeper in the
UK but is what the americans call Bostan Ivy (Parthenocissus
tricuspidata) then it should stay up on its own. They are easy to tell
apart and the clue is in the latin names quinquefolia = 5 leafleted
leaves, tricuspidata 3 lobed leaves. other than that they do similar
autumn colour

Hmm.. I think mine must be the quinquefolia. The wall has been newly
cleaned & painted and I suppose there's no harm in waiting to see if it will
get a grip on the new surface but if mine is the true VC then from what
you've said, I will need wires.

Thanks for the info.

Tim