Virginia creeper

American  

noun

1. a climbing plant, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, of the grape family, native to North America, having palmate leaves, usually with five leaflets, and bluish-black berries.

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Virginia creeper British  

noun

1. Also called (US): American ivy.   woodbine.  a vitaceous woody vine, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, of North America, having tendrils with adhesive tips, bluish-black berry-like fruits, and compound leaves that turn red in autumn: widely planted for ornament

2. US name: Boston ivy.  Also called: Japanese ivy.  a similar related plant, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, of SE Asia, having trilobed leaves and purple berries

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Etymology

Origin of Virginia creeper

An Americanism dating back to 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Virginia creeper

Grapevines are in the family vitaceae; relatives are Boston ivy and Virginia creeper.

From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2017

Farther down the parkway, in Floyd County, he took visitors into the woods to an African-American cemetery that has been completely overtaken by tulip poplars, poison ivy and Virginia creeper.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 19, 2014

From a central gazebo, barely visible under Virginia creeper vines, eight archways covered in roses radiate like spokes on a wheel.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2011

We drove to the south farm, where Ziska pointed again to poison ivy, Japanese honeysuckle and Virginia creeper smothering a fence.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 31, 2010

The Abbey building was covered across its south face by that type of ivy known as Virginia creeper.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques