How to Plant Virginia Creeper

The stems of the Virginia creeper vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) grow 60 feet long. The deciduous plant is a climber, but without a wall to scale, it creeps along about a foot above the ground. Whether the vine climbs or crawls, it needs plenty of space, so consider how much room is available before planting. The woody vine is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 3B to 10. After a specimen grows in your garden, propagate it from stem cuttings or layering. To get the first vine started, treat the seeds before planting.

Sand
Small plastic bag
Hoe
Shovel
Rake

Instructions

- 1
  Add moist sand to a small plastic bag and bury the Virginia creeper seed inside eight weeks before the last frost is expected. Store the bag with the seed at 41 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 days. This cold treatment is called "stratification." The process breaks the embryo's dormancy. Check the moisture regularly throughout the two months. Sprinkle water into the bag whenever the sand begins to dry.
- 2
  Remove vegetation and debris from a planting site in partial or full shade. If you intend to plant more than one seed, find a plot where there is space to sow them three to five feet apart.
- 3
  Loosen the ground with a shovel. Rake the surface to smooth it out for planting. Do not amend the soil with organic matter; Virginia creeper thrives in areas with low nutrients.
- 4
  Sow the Virginia creeper seed 3/8 inch deep after the last frost. Irrigate the area at planting and keep the ground moist through germination. Established vines tolerate dry conditions.

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