Red Wall Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia Red Wall or Troki

Made to cover fences and walls in a hurry, possibly as a shading plant for buildings to help keep them cool in summer, Parthenocissus quinquefolia Red Wall has bronze young leaves and more intense red autumn colour than a wild Virginia creeper, and is effectively a red version of Yellow Wall. 
We also have the closely related Boston Ivy. Browse all our climbers.

The handsome five-lobed leaves are the main display. There are tiny whitish-green flowers in summer that attract bees rather than your attention, and very dark blue fruit in most years. It is self-supporting, holding onto walls with tendrils tipped with adhesive pads. It is strong ground cover too.

They are good in the wildlife garden, as the berries are a winter food source for birds, and old plants make good nesting sites.  

Features

• Use: Self-supporting Climber or Ground Cover
• Leaf Colour: Chartreuse green in summer, red in autumn.
• Height: Vigorous to 15m x 8m.
• Flowering: June to July.
• Colour: Inconspicuous, greenish-white.
• Scent: None.
• Fruit: Blue-black.
• Hardy, deciduous.
• Very easy to grow

Growing Parthenocissus quinquefolia Red Wall

It can touch its roughly full size of 15m by 8m after only 5-10 years, so it needs some space. It won't damage whatever it clings to if it is solid, but be aware that if you want to remove it in the future, it can take paint off in the process.

It will tolerate all fertile, well-drained soil types, full shade to full sun and any exposure and aspect; you'll get the best autumn colour in the shade. If you live in one of the drier areas of the country near the coast, it can withstand salt-laden winds and is drought-tolerant when established. It is also hardy in an average winter (RHS H4, -5C to -10C).

If allowed to grow up trees, it can damage them with its sheer weight and shade them out, so remove a chunk of it every year when mature to keep it under control.

Virginia Creepers all have extensive root systems, making them a chore to get rid of once mature and spread over an area (this quality also makes them good as ground cover). The Royal Horticultural Society advises gardeners to take great care with planting, management and disposing of waste plant material, which may root elsewhere.

Pruning in early winter is necessary around gutters, and wooden window frames or roofs to prevent the plant from getting out of hand and working its way into places where it can do damage over time.

How to plant Virginia Creeper Red Wall

Choose a spot by a well-maintained wall in full sun, partial shade, or shade. Improve the soil by removing roots, weeds, large stones and mix in about 25 per cent by volume of well-rotted compost or manure.

Position the crown at the same height as the pot soil level. Spread the roots out, wet them and sprinkle them with Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi.

Backfill the hole with mixed soil and compost, firming it gently as you go. Water in thoroughly.

Tie in new shoots and tendrils into canes or a trellis until they attach to the wall and can climb without support.

As a row to cover a fence, space plants 3-4 metres apart.