Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Forests, edges, slopes, and climbing up trees, Virginia creeper is a vigorous vine that can cover the ground and smother undertory trees & shrubs. Young leaves at vine tips are often confused with Poison Ivy, but 4 and then 5 (-6!) foliate leaves are found further along the vine.  Inconspicous flowers followed by dark blue berries occur on older stems. Striking red colors in fall. There is a second Parthenocissus species in our region (P. vitacea or P. inserta depending on your reference) that looks very similar but has few (or no) adhesive disks on tendrils. Those disks, present in P. quinquefolia, help the vine climb masonry & trees.