Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston Ivy

Botanical description: Introduced in 1862, Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) was adopted as an ornamental vine, used to cover buildings with a quick patina of age to new construction; another garden plant that has escaped from cultivation and can be found in urban, suburban and rural places. Blooms produced in June are followed by fruits in early autumn, which are happily dispersed by hungry birds. Boston ivy appears to have no bounds to its habitat adaptation and can be found in heavy shade, full sun, clay soil, dry soil, shallow soil and, like few others, can even grow in the shadow of black walnut trees. It is also salt tolerant. A deciduous vine, like its relative Virginia creeper, the leaves of Boston ivy blaze a range of gold, scarlet and maroon before dropping for the season. New plants are often confused for poison ivy as they are found with leaflets of three before maturing to produce leaves that resemble maple, with three pointy lobes. Boston ivy sends its thin tendrils across buildings, attaching itself with sticky disks produced along the length of vines. As a prolific sprawling vine, Parthenocissus tricuspidata has the ability to prevent erosion and can capture pollution and particulates from the air.

Indexed

26

Place of Origin

eastern Asia