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Vines - no, not Wines, VINES!!

57 comments


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!

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Comments

 

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

 

Ah - but WHICH Virginia creeper, Di??

Thanks...:-))

1 Sep, 2009

 

Ah...well, I don't know. It came to me from my Mum's garden, via my great grandmother's garden....so I'm not sure...

1 Sep, 2009

 

Beautiful colours Spritz not turning here yet .. rather glad as still waiting for that summer the weathermen promised us .

1 Sep, 2009

 

Very informative... we got 4 varieties in the vineyard, and 2 types that are allegedly inedible. They reaching a nice size now... Do you prune back some of the foliage now, too let the extra light through ??? or just leave alone... i have thinned out the bunches so that the really small ones have been removed now eg. too many bunches in one area!?!?!

1 Sep, 2009

 

We have five growing at the moment, three fruiting varieties their first year. and two ornamental, Parth Tricusp Veitchii, and Vitis Vinifera Purpurea. We are looking forward to sitting on the decking and just reaching out for a grape.....lol

1 Sep, 2009

 

Lovely plants Spritz and a great picture reference for anyone who has one but doesn't know which one it is!

1 Sep, 2009

 

I always enjoy your blogs Spritz. and this was no exception. Great photos as usual. :~))

1 Sep, 2009

 

Great blog and good shots Spritz I enjoyed them thankyou.

1 Sep, 2009

 

very interesting Spritz, and it gives a good idea what the plants grow like. I have one in a pot (don't know which one) I really must find a permanent home for it :)

2 Sep, 2009

 

Thanks Spritz. Another great blog. I'm particularly interested in the Parthenocissus thomsonii, I've not heard of that one and as it is not as vigorous as the others it may be good for my small garden. Will look into it. Thanks again.

2 Sep, 2009

 

ooh these are good
much rather we had the chinese creeper to the damned Ivy we have got!!
cannot get shot of it

x x x

2 Sep, 2009

 

I've taken notes (now I can see properly) and am looking around to find suitable places for one or two. :~))

2 Sep, 2009

 

Why, did you lose your glasses, Ian?? ;-)

2 Sep, 2009

 

LMAO Spritz, no it was a bit late last night when I read your blog and a bit sleepy! ! ! :~)))

2 Sep, 2009

 

These look lovely, where space allows i love to see vines growing :)

2 Sep, 2009

 

Gorgeous all varieties of them, wish I had enough space to plant even one of them..........:o(

2 Sep, 2009

 

they are lovely spritz, my mum has one all on her fence which is the green turning to red, didnt realise there were more of them, look great

2 Sep, 2009

 

Thanks - I'm grateful to our predecessors for planting them!

2 Sep, 2009

 

Wow Spritzhenry!
What a lovely display! You have some beautiful photos of your garden and all the variety of plants, shrubs etc.,
I haven't been out into our garden for days - (or weeks even) and it looks neglected, bedraggled and sorry for itself rather like me. Some days I don't get dressed until dinner time (we dine at night like what posh people do!). I must pull my socks up and get on with things. Perhaps I'm missing something like interaction between fellow garden lovers.
Torrential rain and storm last night hasn't helped either.
Hope I am on the mend as our new Greatgrandson looks as though he is thriving and maybe I shall see him soon.
No frogs around any more and the beautiful clematis has been cut right back, the broken willow trellis removed and is being replaced and we have a wrought iron railing and gate down the path along the side of the house to prevent anyone larking about with our wheelie bins. PLUS I am going to have my longed for wrought iron handrails down the steps to the lower level of our garden. NB handrails in the PLURAL as we have steps down from both ends of the upper terrace.
Feeling more cheerful already - sorry about the moans.
Oh, Roy is making me a cuppa another reason to rejoice!
Carry on Gardening Everyone.
Apologies to Spritz

2 Sep, 2009

 

Why apologise after those lovely comments, Lyn! I hope you'll be able to get outside more once the rails are fixed. That'll help you to feel better in itself!

Sorry you've been unwell and feeling so low. Welcome back! I'm glad you're enjoying my garden with me... :-))

2 Sep, 2009

 

The only one of those I've got is parthenocissus henryana because it is smaller than the big Virginia Creepers. But it doesn't colour up as well as the big ones. Another good plant blog spritz

2 Sep, 2009

 

Thanks, Andrew. :-))

2 Sep, 2009

 

Loved your blog & photos, as i always do.

2 Sep, 2009

 

I couldnt agree with Clarice any more. Informative as ever, great photo's too.

2 Sep, 2009

 

I do like the pink stems and leaf edges of Thomsonii.

2 Sep, 2009

 

That one is the most spectacular when it changes colour, because the leaves are glossy!

Thanks for the kind remarks, all, - they are appreciated! :-)

2 Sep, 2009

 

What an interesting blog - lovely pics - I've never actually seen some of the vines you've got, though I've read about them. We have a view of loads of the ordinary virginia creeper growing over a row of 20 garages and that starts going red at the top end, where its more exposed, and works its way down. Hate it when it starts (its already going) because I know summer's gone...

4 Sep, 2009

 

As usual you have come up trumps on your blog, and inspired me..
I have a blank brick wall at the top of the garden, souht facing, it gets the sun for most of the day, and now I have an idea of what I could grow along it.. :-)
Your pictures are gorgeous, and really show the glorious autumn colours....ooops did I really say Autumn in September??? My apologies!!
Do you think they would survive a good Scottish winter??

4 Sep, 2009

 

Thanks, Bamboo - pity you live so far away! I know it's a bit sad when they change colour - but they are so beautiful!

Thank you, too, Motinot - and yes, I don't see why not...as far as I'm aware, they are all hardy, except P. henryana, which is 'borderline hardy'. Anyway, that one prefers some shade! :-))

4 Sep, 2009

 

Theyre gorgeous! I have some russian vine cuttings which I'm longing to see in full throttle next year!
Mar, I'll see if I can get more & if so will bring you them!
I'm definitely going to look out for the purple one!!

16 Sep, 2009

 

Russian vine, Madperth? and more than one cutting? You know its not really a vine like the ones in this blog, do you? and that it's also known as Mile-a-minute-vine, and for a very good reason - it grows for miles.

16 Sep, 2009

 

Mp - unless you want to see your garden, shed, house and your neighbours' properties as well ALL covered in Russian Vine - be afraid, be very afraid! I would NOT plant it in my garden - and you know I have a large one, don't you!

Bamboo has warned you, so have I - so I'll say no more - it's your decision!

16 Sep, 2009

 

Ok, thanks for the advice! I think I might just 'lose' that one!

16 Sep, 2009

 

Very sensible. :-))

17 Sep, 2009

 

:~)) I could use it to hide the leylandii opposite the front of the house!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Yes, it could well hide the lot of them!! LOL.

17 Sep, 2009

 

LOL! ;~))

17 Sep, 2009

 

Leylandii AND russian vine - hmm - you'd be like Sleeping Beauty, trapped in a thicket with no way out without using napalm or semtex... unless you wanna wait for your prince (oh, if only, but its just a fairytale...)

17 Sep, 2009

 

Bonnie Prince Charlie?? lol.

17 Sep, 2009

 

LOL, Bamboo! The leydownanddie arent mine! They've been planted along the fence of the warehouse that some a****** built beside our row of cottages, & blocking our view down to the river!!
As for princes..........!!!
Spritz, why would I want an effeminate mincing cross-dresser to rescue me??? mind you, the French accent is gorgeous, but have you seen pics of him????????

17 Sep, 2009

 

Jeanne Christoph, the chef, now there's a Frenchman who'd make a very good prince, thank you very much....

17 Sep, 2009

 

Do you mean Jean-Christophe Novelli? If so, je suis d'accord! Absolument!!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Spot on, Madperth, couldn't recall his last name, but knew if you were an admirer, you'd know who I meant;-)

17 Sep, 2009

 

OH YES!!! Gorgeous! And that voice! And he can cook, perfect! I hate cooking!

17 Sep, 2009

 

I'd be more interested in other things he'd do, really - I like cooking myself, most of the time anyway;-))

17 Sep, 2009

 

I thought you wanted a REAL prince! There are a few still unmarried, I do believe...but I don't think they're French, or Scottish, either...

17 Sep, 2009

 

LMAO!!!! Me too really, Bamboo, but the cooking's a bonus!
A real prince, Spritz? Nah, theyre too inbred!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Lots of money, though...to hire a chef, maid, whatever your heart desired!! LOL.

17 Sep, 2009

 

I'd rather have the gorgeous French chef!
He aint exactly poor!

17 Sep, 2009

 

At my time of life, I wouldn't care whether he was rich or poor, I'd just be grateful ...

17 Sep, 2009

 

True...

Sorry, Bamboo - that was a comment to answer Mp!!!!

17 Sep, 2009

 

LMAO! Isnt continuity wonderful!! Still giggling!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Now it's my turn to tell YOU to behave, Mp!!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Oops!! And thats without a drink!! Indy's just set me off, I think!!

17 Sep, 2009

 

Thanks for this link to your blog, SH....informative. I'll look out for the Thomsonii as that sounds about right for my small garden area. Lovely pictures. I've seen a lot of virginia creeper (it's very popular in Canada where I originate) and a neighbour across from us has some on her fencing and it's beginning to turn colour....I love it's vibrant colour.

18 Sep, 2010

 

I'm glad you found it OK, and enjoyed it. Good luck with your search....some of them are probably too vigorous for your purposes, but Thomsonii isn't - it's a lovely one.

18 Sep, 2010

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