Pronounciation: Par-then-o-SIS-sus 'Ha-si-EN-da KREE-per'

Hardiness zones:
Sunset 10-24
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: Small-scale ground cover, prolific fence and wall cover (but needs support) for mesic and oasis landscape design motifs, green walls, cooling shade walls, and green roofs.

Form & Character: Formal, aggressive, delicate, bright, clean, and oasis.

Growth Habit: Semi-deciduous (in Phoenix) to evergreen (in mild climates such as coastal southern California), woody, herbaceous perennial vine, rapidly climbing, twining and spreading to 50 feet.

Foliage/Texture: Medium green (when mature), palmately compound leaves to 2 inches, stem terminus grows tendrils that facilitate climbing by twining; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Flowers in in umbellate clusters, inconspicuous; fruits are small greenish to black drupes, also in clusters.

Seasonal Color: Striking purple to almost scarlet red new foliage in early spring and brilliant red fall and winter color in Phoenix.

Temperature: Tolerant to 20^oF; above 110^oF will suffer foliar burn.

Light: In Phoenix, locate in partial sun and/or eastern exposures. Absolutely DO NOT locate on a western exposure where this delicate vine will be roasted in the hot afternoon desert summer sun.

Soil: Prefers moist organic soils.

Watering: Regular water especially during summer.

Pruning: Little except to control spread.

Propagation: Asexually via softwood cuttings.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: There is much confusion as to the taxonomic relationship of Hacienda creeper. Is it a selection of Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, or a hybrid? Presently, there is no data to properly answer. What is apparent though is that Hacienda creeper's leaves are on balance smaller and more glabrous than those of the 'normal', far more more cold hardy Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper).

Ornamental vines as ornamental plants in desert Southwest landscapes are generally hard to come by, so Hacienda creeper is presently getting a lot of attention from landscape architects in particular for use as a fence or wall cover (especially in these heady days of specifying vines to cover cooling walls and provide shade to buildings and/or to create dry shade gardens). In Phoenix, Hacienda creeper is a plant that performs best in mesic landscapes with ample water and is generally a poor plant to mix in with other xeric plants because of textural and water use disparities. This issue is acute in Phoenix and is not as problematic in Tucson, or other upper elevation Arizona town and cities.