General Landscape Uses:
Accent vine.
Availability:
Native plant nurseries in central and northern Florida.
Description: High climbing woody vine. Leaves temperate semi-deciduous.
Dimensions: N/A; vine with stems to 15 feet or more in length.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Eastern and central North America west to Utah and Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; Cuba and the Bahamas. Very rare in the Monroe County Keys and perhaps absent from the middle Keys.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Forest edges and thickets.
Soils: Moist, well-drained to moderately well-drained sandy, limestone, or organic soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color: White.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Spring-summer.
Fruit: Berry, dark blue to almost black.
Wildlife and Ecology: The fruits are eaten by birds, who disperse the seeds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual
(2005).
Comments: Virginia-creeper can become aggressive once established.
