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The Monday Garden
Great Americans; "Five-Fingered" Woodbine
Issue No. 130 - September 19, 2004
by Sue Sweeney
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| The solstice is appropriate to recognize our native
woodbine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), a handsome,
hardy member of the grape family. One of its common names is
“five-fingered ivy”, not for any larcenous intent on the
vine’s part, but for the 5 leaflets of its compound leaf. In
full sun, it produces dark blue-purple fruit that clearly
reflex its grape heritage and contrast beautifully with its
red stems. |
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Picture: Woodbine
in fruit at Scalzi Park, Stamford CT, Late August
2004. |
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| Surprised that woodbine fruits? It doesn’t in the shade
and it doesn’t when its new growth is trimmed off every
year. However, think about how it showed up under the tree
in your garden: it had to come by bird-gut, right? And that
requires an edible fruit or seed. The birds, squirrels and
other fauna munch the berries up in short order which is
another reason why you might have missed seeing the lovely
fruit. A number of insects (and of course, deer) feed on the
leaves. Sadly, you can’t share in the bounty, except
vicariously through your songbirds and squirrels, because
the berries are reportedly seriously toxic to humans. The
leaves, particularly in autumn, may also cause an allergic
reaction in humans, so test your sensitivity before handling
large quantities of the foliage.
In the garden, woodbine’s a great, care-free
groundcover for shade. It’s often used by
conservation managers for erosion control and
watershed protection. Try it mixed with ferns,
spring bulbs, summer lilies, fall-blooming native
asters, and dog violets. It’s also wonderful on a
wall or fence. A fast way to cover chain link fence
is to start a bunch of woodbine cuttings in the
spring. It roots easily in water. The seeds need to
chill for at least 60 days before germinating, and
sometimes don’t sprout until the second year, so
cuttings are the quickest way to go. In the moist
shade, woodbine is subject to powdery mildew and
anthracnose so try to give it at least filtered sun. |
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Picture:
Woodbine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
with ferns and a birch log
(and a little poison ivy right in front of
the garlic mustard) Bartlett Arboretum,
Summer 2004. |
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| Woodbine’s hardy Zone 3b to Zone 9, so all North
Americans from Ontario to Mexico can enjoy its beauty.
However, don’t let woodbine start climbing your shrubs or
trees because it will overwhelm them. (Admittedly, woodbine,
capable of a 60-foot stretch, is a bit larcenous when it
comes to who gets the sun). Don’t let it start up your
masonry either, because, like many ivies in its family, it
has tiny adhesive pads on the tips of its tendrils that
aren’t so good for the grout. |
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Picture: woodbine
decorating a stone wall, Bedford Street, Stamford CT, June
200 |
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While the bare, silver-gray, woody vines in
winter don’t appeal to all tastes; the
bronzy new leaves in late spring, the
handsome summer green accented by a touch of
red, and the striking reds and purples in
fall, all add to the garden. I like it so
much that I have one as a bonsai on my
balcony. |
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Pictures:
Woodbine shows its early seasonal beauty,
Stamford, CT 2004 |
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Picture: Woodbine on a
fence (with rosa mulitflora) in Revonah, Stamford CT 2003 |
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Woodbine can be confused with poison ivy
since they often grow in the same place and
have similar coloring. Woodbine, though, is
the FIVE FINGERED ONE.
Here are pictures showing both: |
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pictures: Can you
tell the difference between poison ivy and
woodbine in these pictures? |
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picture: Bedford Street,
Stamford CT, June 2004. |
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picture: Cove Island,
Stamford CT, fall 2003 |
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