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Vines - Part 2 - Page 4© Marge Talt
Page 4
Aug 24, 1999
There are a couple of varieties worth noting. Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Englemanii', Englman Ivy, has smaller leaves than the species. Another, saint-paulii also has smaller leaves and is said to have better clinging abilities than the species. I've found at least one cultivar, 'Monham' (Star Showers TM), with white variegated leaves. This might be well worth searching out, especially if you're a variegated foliage nut, like I am. Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Boston Ivy, is the climber that covers many an ivy league college wall. It's deciduous, as is Virginia creeper, the main difference being the shape of the leaves, Boston ivy having fatter leaves with shallower lobes. Holding Fast All the vines I've mentioned in this article are self-clinging, not twining. The hydrangeas and Schizophragma employ root-like hold fasts, pictured here on ivy (Hedera helix) to get a grip on their supports.
Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy, on the other hand, have a more interesting method of holding fast. Holding fast to just about anything, in the case of the Virginia creeper in this scan. This bit was traveling over the driveway and picked up several pieces of gravel, as well as a twig. These bits of rock are not easily dislodged, either. You can't shake them off, you have to pull them off.
These close-ups show how the vine operates. It extends delicate tendrils that corkscrew around until they encounter something solid, when they expand to form adhesive disks that literally cement themselves to whatever they encounter, be it rock, twig, tree or structure. The adhesive disk breaks off with the gravel and stays on it. Vigorous scraping with the thumbnail won't take them off.
Next time, more vines. See ya' later! More Information For those of you in warm climates, Ficus pumila will cover a shady wall. It's aggressive, but sounds neat. While I fight a continuous battle with wild grape vines in my woods and garden, there are some vines in this family that I've wanted to grow for years. Ketzle Levine has a good article (hers always are!) about some of them. Read Vitis , and you'll see what I mean. For those of you in the UK, Crûg Farm offers not only the two selections I've mentioned, but three species of Schizophragma that they have collected on one of their many plant finding trips to the orient. They don't do mailorder, and it seems their nursery is rather remote, but well worth a visit. If you go, tell me about it!
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