Vines - no, not Wines, VINES!!

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I was lucky enough to inherit no less than six different vines in my garden. One had to go when the Garden Room was built, as it was climbing on the end wall of the house – it covered it! It was so beautiful that I planted another one as soon as I could.

That was the one known as a ‘Virginia Creeper’ – but there are several also called that! This is it – it stays green until this time of year, and then gradually changes colour to a deep red before the leaves fall.

Parthenocissus henryana – or Chinese Virginia Creeper

The one on the stream wall has already started to turn red – it’s strange, it starts at one end of the wall, and the bright colour moves along gradually until the whole vine is glowing! It is also very vigorous – it covers about 30’ of wall!

Parthenocissus tricuspidata – or Boston Ivy

Another ‘Virginia Creeper’ is growing all over the roof of the garage, and the ‘fronds’ trail gracefully through the shrubs planted against the garage wall. It has already started to change from green to a bright scarlet! It looks wonderful with the red berries of the Pyracantha. It’s also very vigorous, that’s obvious!

Parthenocissus quinquefolia – or Virginia Creeper

The last of the ‘Virginia Creepers’ grows right by the front gate, and it’s trained along wires. It isn’t nearly as vigorous as the others. It’s always the last one to change colour in the autumn, but when it does, it turns a glossy scarlet. What a sight when we go in or out!

Parthenocissus thomsonii – which doesn’t seem to have a common name!

The other two vines don’t turn red – nor do they produce edible grapes! One is a beauty all the year round. In the autumn, its leaves, which have the true grape-vine shape, turn purple. They are almost a burgundy colour all the time, especially when the sun shines though them. It is trained along wires by the wooden bridge over the stream.

Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’ – or ornamental grape vine

The last one in the garden is a bit of a thug. It grows over a pergola in the back garden, along with Rosa ‘Kiftsgate’. Yes, it does produce small bunches of grapes – but they are absolutely horrible! In a poor summer, they stay as tiny bead-like fruits, and I have to clear them up as they fall, because Henry rather enjoys eating them! UGH!

The leaves of this vine are enormous! The vine covered pergola would be a cool place to sit, if we had any hot weather! The leaves do change colour slightly in the autumn – but they tend to fall before they change to the deep red I’ve seen on other vines. It’s extremely vigorous, and has to be cut back before it takes over the whole side of the house, the roses, the honeysuckle and the Photinia tree!

Vitis coignatiae – or grape vine

So there you are! Six different vines – and no wine at all!

1 Sep, 2009
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Crazydi

They are gorgeous Spritz:) I love vines, and have two in my garden...Virginia creeper and an ornamental grape vine. Now the nights are getting cooler mine are just starting to change colour, but they won't go completely red till October. Yours are looking spectacular already :)

1 Sep, 2009

Vines - no, not Wines, VINES!!

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