Boston Ivy, Japanese Ivy, Japanese Creeper
Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Green. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Variable height, Variable spread.

Parthenocissus tricuspidata is a deciduous Climber growing to 18 m (59ft 1in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 18

Where it is found

Thickets and woods in hills and mountains. Climbing over rocks or shrubs on hillsides at elevations of 100 - 1200 metres in China.

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. A garden escape in Britain.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Sap - sweet. The sap flows quite freely when it is harvested in the spring, as the plant comes into new growth, and can be used as a sugar substitute.

Sap: usually of trees and usually but not always used as a drink.

Sweetener: includes sugar substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

This species can be grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position. Plants should be spaced about 2.5 metres apart each way. They are very vigorous, however, and would soon swamp smaller plants.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Arbor, Woodland garden. Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil. Succeeds in any fertile soil in sun or part shade. Dormant plants are hardy to about -15°c, though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties. The flowers are only produced on mature stems and plants usually only fruit after a long hot summer. A rampant climbing plant, clinging by means of round pad-like suckers on the tendrils. It can become a bit of a nuisance by growing into gutters. Plants are very tolerant of trimming and can be cut right back to within 1 metre of the base if required to rejuvenate the plant. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring. Dislikes transplanting, plants often put on very little growth in the year after planting out, though they are then fast growing. Plants often hybridize and so do not always come true from seed. Special Features: Not North American native, Invasive, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires stratifying for 6 weeks at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Germination is variable. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm taken at a node (ensure that it has at least 2 true buds), July/August in a frame. Easy to root but they do not always survive the first winter. Basal hardwood cuttings of current seasons growth, 10 - 12 cm long, autumn in a frame. Layering.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ampelopsis tricuspidata. A. veitchii.