50 GRAINES PARTHENOCISSUS TRICUSPIDATA, BOSTON IVY, JAPANES À MANTES LA JOLIE

Parthenocissus tricuspidata   Boston Ivy, Japanese Ivy   Japanese Creeper  Name: Parthenocissus tricuspidata Common Name: Boston Ivy, Japanese Ivy, Japanese Creeper Family: Vitaceae Zones: 4 to 8 Grows to: 60 ft. Description:  This woody vine branches occasionally and can reach 50' in length. Boston Ivy can easily climb tree bark, wooden fences, concrete masonry, and brick or stone walls. In the absence of such supportive surfaces, it sprawls across the ground. The lower stems of mature vines are brown and woody; they can span several inches across and form small brown rootlets that can cling to various surfaces. The upper stems are hairless and vary in color from green to bright orange-red; they produce branched tendrils that have suckers at their tips. These suckers are shaped like small disks and can cling to various surfaces as well. Immature plants that are beginning to develop have trifoliate leaves. However, mature plants produce simple alternate leaves along their stems. The mature leaves span up to 6" long and across (excluding the petioles). They are cordate-oval, palmately lobed (usually with 3 lobes), and crenate or slightly undulate along the margins. Their upper surface is medium to dark green, hairless, and rather shiny. Young leaves of mature plants are similar, except they are yellowish green and coarsely dentate along the margins. The petioles of these leaves are long and slender; they are usually light green, but may become bright orange-red during the fall. Occasionally, cymes of flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. Each cyme can span up to 4" across and long. Each yellowish green flower is about ¼" across, consisting of 5 green petals, 5 stamens with yellow anthers, and a central pistil. The sepals are absent or insignificant. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. The flowers are usually well-hidden in the foliage. Each fertilized flower can produce a juicy berry about 1/3" (8 mm.) long that contains 1-3 seeds. The berries are dark blue with a whitish bloom and globoid in shape; their stalks are yellowish green, brownish green, or dull orange-red. The root system consists of a stout woody taproot. Cultivation: Boston Ivy prefers full sun to light shade, slightly moist to slightly dry conditions, and a fertile loamy soil to support its rampant growth. It will tolerate soil containing clay or stony material. Flowers and berries are more likely to be produced if there is some exposure to sunlight. How To Start These Seeds: Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours Stratification: Cold stratify for 60 days Germination: Can be sown outdoors in the fall for spring germination, sow seed 3/8 inch deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed, keep moist   50 Seeds  Parthenocissus tricuspidata