HOW TO GROW THE VIRGINIA CREEPER FROM CUTTINGS |The Garden of Eaden

How to grow the virginia creeper from cuttings

The Virginia creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia is one of the very best climbing plants for autumn colour and, like its closely related cousin the grape vine, it is very easy to propagate. You get two opportunities to take cuttings from the Virginia creeper, the first is as semi-ripe cuttings in August to September and then as hardwood cuttings from November onwards. Hardwood cutting are taken in the dormant season after leaf drop, and avoiding periods of severe frost. The ideal time is just after leaf fall in late autumn or just before bud-burst in spring.

Semi-ripe cuttings

Taking Virginia creeper for cutting material

Using a sharp, sterilized blade, take 4-5 inch nodal cuttings from half-ripened stems and insert them singularly into pots containing a good quality compost such as John Innes 'Seed and Cutting'. You may wish to mix in extra horticultural grade grit-sand to improve the drainage further. Do not allow the cutting to dry out between taking it from the vine and planting it in the pot. If there will be a delay or the weather is hot, wrap the cuttings inside a moist paper towel and keep it out of the sun if you can't plant it immediately.

Note: A nodal cutting is a stem cutting that has been cut above and below a leaf joint.

Water in and then once the excess has drained away place the pots into a propagating frame or large heated propagator at a temperature of between 13-16 degrees Celsius. Keep out of direct sunlight. Once the cuttings have rooted they can be removed from the propagator and grown on under protecting in cool conditions avoiding freezing conditions. Once rooted the cuttings can be potted on into 1 litre pots. They can be planted out into their final positions once the threat of late frosts have passed in the spring.

Hardwood cuttings