hello! I had virginia creepers planted in my yard last year and did not realize that they are perennials. I let them be through the winter and I am wondering if they will ‘come back to life’ this spring? right now they mostly look dead (the vines are still ‘climbed up the fence’. I am a total newbie when it comes to gardening so appreciate any advice you have. Thank you!
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) grows quickly, is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, aside from trimming. The plant thrives in partial shade to full sun. It prefers acidic soil, and tolerates a wide range of soils from dry sandy soils to moist loamy soils. This plant provides food and shelter for birds and insects. This plant is extremely hardy, viable from a zone 2b-9 and if properly watered the year before should re-emerge this year.
Our spring has been exceptionally cold this year and as a result there are many trees, shrubs and vines that have yet to leaf out. I would wait and see if the vine leafs out once the weather warms up. One way you can test to see if the vine is still viable is to lightly scratch the wood with your fingernail. If the wood underneath is green then the plant is still alive and is just waiting for warm weather before it sends out its leaves.