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

But as tobacco farms and textile mills steadily disappeared, hollowing out rural counties, the suburbs stretching southward from Washington spread out like Virginia creeper, fed by culturally liberal college graduates from all over the world.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2020

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

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 scrap of song came from a woman’s throat, and Joe thrashed and beat his way up the incline and through the hedge, a tangle of muscadine vines, Virginia creeper and hibiscus rusty with age.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison