Our first Virginia Creeper at our old house on Country Aire Drive attracted a lot of attention as it scrambled over our small greenhouse with its gorgeous green leaves but not a hint of a bloom. While all the clematis' had taken the first dance, our Virginia Creeper subtly waited, letting the clematis and the wisterias have the limelight, quietly bowing out. Finally, in the late summer, she showed a little ankle in the form of tiny white flowers. Many a neighbour would ask, "What we had there and what will she do?"

"Don't rush," we said, "You'll be best to wait and see," was our defence for our beloved creeper. After the wisteria blooms were long since forgotten and the clematis flowers had faded, still the lush green foliage of our Virginia creeper remained just that, lush and green. Then suddenly all at once, the whole side of our small greenhouse lit up in a blaze of colours fiery red, crimson and orange, all the colours of the most spectacular Autumn sunset.

"That," we said, " is what she will do."

Virginia Creeper
-fast growing up to 50'
-grows in full sun or part shade
-hardy to zone 3 (-40C)
-berries in the fall are great for the birds. Toxic to humans.

Shauna Lambeth ©

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