Can Boston Ivy Grow on Siding?

About Boston Ivy

• Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is also known as Japanese creeper. It is a fast-growing deciduous vine that can grow up to 60 feet long. It has green leaves that turn red, purple or orange in the fall. It is very hardy and will tolerate wind and almost any soil type. It grows in both sun and shade. In the spring it produces an inconspicuous flower and blue-black berries that remain on the vine long after its leaves have fallen.

How Ivy Grows

• What makes Boston ivy so destructive is how it attaches itself to a surface. It is considered a clinging vine because it uses adhesive discs to attach itself to the surface. These miniature suction cups allow the ivy to attach to smooth surfaces without any support. This also means that they will grow wherever they choose. They aren't limited like other vines, which need structures to either cling to or wrap around.

Wood Siding

• Wood siding is more at risk of being damaged than vinyl siding. The adhesive discs often damage the wood either when they are removed or when they die. As they decay, the discs create humic acid, which will destroy the wood. The ivy also traps moisture against the surface of your house, which can cause the wood to decay. Wood siding is also prone to all the same types of damage as vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding

• Boston ivy will not do as much damage to vinyl siding as it does wood siding, but that doesn't mean vinyl siding will get away unscathed. The discs often stain and discolor the siding. The ivy can work its way between the seams of the siding and damage it. Ivy can also become too heavy for the siding and cause it to loosen or even come off the building.