Experienced grower's notes on Virginia Creeper

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Virginia Creeper remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is training new growth to the support structure while still flexible. Everything else follows from that.

pruning at the wrong time removing next season's flower buds is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a tree stump or old structure being naturalised for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. ability to soften hard architectural features naturally is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. autumn foliage colour on deciduous species before leaf fall is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.