Grape ivy, better known in the United States as Boston ivy, is an East Asian woody vine related to grapes rather than true ivy. Small adhesive pads hold it to brick and stone walls, and its leaves turn red in fall. Eating the berries may irritate the mouth and stomach.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A fast-growing woody vine that can climb 30–60 ft (9–18 m). Branched end in adhesive disks that grip walls.
- Leaves
- Glossy leaves 2–9 in (5–22 cm) across, usually with three lobes. They come out reddish-green and turn orange-yellow to deep scarlet in fall.
- Flowering time
- In spring and summer, small pale yellowish-green flowers bloom in clusters beneath the leaves.
- Fruit
- Small, dull dark blue-black berries about 1/3 in (under 1 cm) across, ripening in fall.
Look-alikes
Virginia creeperParthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper usually has five separate . Grape ivy usually has one broad leaf with three pointed lobes.
English ivyHedera helix
English ivy keeps green leaves through winter. Grape ivy turns red in fall and drops its leaves.
Grape ivy houseplantCissus alata
The houseplant has leaves made of three separate leaflets and stays green indoors. This outdoor grape ivy usually has one leaf with three pointed lobes.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- brick and stone walls
- fences
- rock walls
- trees
- Range
- Native to Korea, Japan, and China. It is an introduced vine in the US, grown on buildings and in gardens.
- Preferred conditions
- Hardy in USDA zones 4–8. It grows in sun or shade and tolerates a range of soils.
Life cycle
- Seed dispersal
- Birds eat the berries through fall and winter and spread the seeds.
Cautions
- Cautions
- Eating the berries may irritate the mouth and stomach.
Name and classification
- About the name
- The houseplant grape ivy (Cissus alata) is a different vine with the same common name.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The adhesive pads can leave marks when the vine is pulled from a wall and are difficult to remove from wood or shingle walls.