How to Identify Cardinal Creeper Plants

Touch the vines of the plant. Cardinal creeper has strong, pliable, woody vines. The vines are smooth to the touch. Plants that do not put out vines or have fuzzy vines are not cardinal creepers.

Count the palmate divisions in the leaves of the plant. A palmated leaf has divisions that resemble palm fronds, but are not as deep. A cardinal creeper leaf should have between five and seven divisions. The leaves should be dark green and smooth.

Locate the flowering bunches on the vines. Cardinal creeper plants produce flowers in groups. The flowers should be a deep red or purple-red color with white or yellow stamen in the middle of each bloom.

Pick one of the flowers and examine its shape. Cardinal creeper flowers are trumpet shaped. If the plant has not produced flowers yet, look for the berries of the plant. They will be bunched like the flowers and will have the same vibrant red color.