In article ,
says...

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
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

I have just been to look at my plant, it does indeed have three pointed
leaves. As I said in my original reply I am not a gardener. Somebody told
me years ago that it was a VC. The same person also told me it will not do
any harm to my brickwork, is this also incorrect? I can only describe the
'attachers' as like very tiny hands with fat ended fingers.

Cheers

John



You have by the sound of it Parthenocissus tricuspidata AKA Bostan Ivy,
the tendrills have adesive pads on the ends, they only work once though
so only new growth will attach, secure all the old growth so its weight
in the wind will not dislodge the new stuff as it starts to attach, it
wont take it long and it forms a good cover.
It will not harm brick work, and so long as you prevent it getting under
the roof is well behaved
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea