Virginia Creeper is a vigorous, deciduous climber, self clinging to walls or wood with small pads. Large 5 lobed deep green leaves turn brilliant shades of orange and wine-red in the winter. It is covered in small white flowers and is excellent for bees and insects in summer.

It thrives in many places other plants will not tolerate, and is equally at home growing as a ground cover as it is climbing a wall. For centuries, it has been used to cover unsightly walls or enhance a building façade, to reduce radiation from walls and insulate vertical walls. It is easy to control with the minimum of trimming several times per year.

Parthenocissus rarely does any damage to walls unless it is ripped off while alive. If it needs to be removed the main stems should be severed first and then allowed to dry, then they can be rubbed off without damaging the masonry.

Virginia creeper, is very similar to, but is less shade-tolerant than Boston Ivy and tends to bear more berries. Being so rampant and large, it's best suited to larger gardens.