Woody vines can be friend or foe

Woody vines often seem more like animals than plants. Initially they grow slowly, but after a few years, they can invade and overwhelm. For years I’ve encouraged and then controlled several woody vines, and there’s one I try to keep far from the house.

Five species, all natives, take the late summer stage. The leaves of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) are just beginning to turn red on tree trunks, fence posts and old buildings. American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) will soon turn yellow, but its bright orange fruits will be more conspicuous. Trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans) and grape vines (Vitis spp.) lack vibrant fall colors, but are easy to notice as they carpet the canopies of small trees and shrubs.

My interest in woody vines began 20 year ago when I planted several sprigs of trumpetcreeper. Its orange, trumpet-shaped flower is a source of nectar, and hummingbirds love it. For four years I nurtured these plants, waiting patiently for the first blossoms. Finally, after five years, they bloomed.

The first five years were devoted primarily to root growth, which eventually allowed it to grow rapidly and aggressively. Without minimal control trumpetcreeper can cover a small building in just a few years. But the nectar-bearing blooms that appear in late June and July are well worth the inconvenience.

Rapid climb

Trumpetcreeper climbs rapidly on wood, stone and brick and reaches heights of 30 feet or more. Its compound leaves range from three to 12 inches and consist of seven to 11 toothed leaflets. Its orange flowers yield four- to eight-inch pods which dry and split to release many small, winged seeds.

Virginia creeper doesn’t need an invitation to invade backyards. Dozens of birds love its small dark blue berries, which suggest miniature grapes, and its seeds are spread via bird droppings. Its flowers are small, green, and inconspicuous, but its compound leaves typically consist of five leaflets arising from a central point. Occasionally leaves may have only three leaflets making it easy to confuse with poison ivy (“leaflets three, let it be”).

American bittersweet is a popular decoration for fall table settings. In the fall its seeds are inside orange capsules and covered by a bright red fleshy outer skin. Its leaves turn yellow in the fall and are two- to five-inches long with wavy teeth.

Bittersweet flowers in May and June, but the blossoms are green, inconspicuous and dieocious (that is, male and female flowers occur on separate plants).

Grape vines climb high and aggressively overtop small trees and shrubs. Grasping tendrils extend from the stems to give the vine a firm grip on its anchor. Grape leaves are heart-shaped and can reach nine inches long. Grapes can be sweet or sour depending on the species, but all are favorite foods of dozens of birds and mammals.

Excellent nesting

The mats of grape vines that cover stands of small trees provide excellent nesting cover for birds such as cardinals, song sparrows and catbirds. Furthermore, grape vine bark sheds in long strips and makes great nesting material.

The final woody vine on this list is also beneficial to wildlife. The itchy rash that results from contact with poison ivy, however, can be a problem. As a boy, I was extremely allergic to poison ivy and missed school several times with my eyes swollen shut. Fortunately many people, including me, lose their sensitivity to poison ivy oil, urushiol, as they get older. This irritating oil is present in all plant parts all year long, and it can remain active on dead plant parts for up to five years. Burning or weed-eating poison ivy can release molecules of urushiol into the air.

Poison ivy and its leaves are highly variable. The plant grows as a vine, a shrub, or even a small tree, and its leaves can be round, oval or elongate with smooth or toothed margins. Older stems and climbing forms are covered with fine, aerial rootlets. Poison ivy is a chameleon, but its compound leaves are shiny and almost always consist of three leaflets. People should avoid poison ivy at all costs, but dozens of birds eat its small white fruits.

XSend questions and comments to Dr. Scott Shalaway, R.D. 5, Cameron, W.Va. 26033 or via e-mail to sshalaway@aol.com