ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Hoein' & Growin
SOURCE: DIANE RELF
There are a variety of vines that add a distinctive look to the landscape around a home. Robert Lyons, professor of horticulture at Virginia Tech, lists some of their characteristics.
The Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia durior) is an unusual vine especially suited for growing on a south-facing or west-facing wall. A vigorous climbing, twining vine, it can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet in one season. Its dark green leaves are large and heart shaped, and in early summer the vine produces intriguing yellow, brown and green flowers. Although somewhat inconspicuous, these flowers are shaped like an old Dutch pipe, hence the plant's name. If grown on an arbor, trellis, pergola or pillar, the Dutchman's Pipe forms a nice privacy screen or a source of shade. Plant in any well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Introduced into cultivation in 1783 by John Bartram, the Dutchman's Pipe is available primarily from specialty nurseries and mail order catalogs. However, it is native to the mountain woods of Giles and Montgomery counties.
The Porcelain Ampelopsis (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) is a member of the grape family not normally found in the home landscape. It is a woody vine that, once established, can grow 20 feet in a single season. It does not attach by pads like many other vines, but by tendrils, so it will not invade mortar and can be removed easily and completely. It is best grown on a lattice or pergola and tolerates any soil type (except very wet). It performs best in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Flowers from July to August produce fruits that have been described as second to no other woody plant. The colors range from yellow to pale lilac to bright blue and may all be present simultaneously. Prune Ampelopsis in the spring. With staking and training, the vine can be grown as a small tree reaching about 6 feet. Propagate by leaf cuttings in the summer or hardwood cuttings taken in the fall as the leaves are falling.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), also a member of the grape family, is a climbing vine with the ability to cement itself to almost any surface by tendrils with adhesive tips. The Virginia Creeper has palmately compound leaves that are a lustrous, deep green in the summer and purple to crimson in the fall. Well suited to climbing on walls, trees or other structures, it has a rapid rate of growth and is only limited in size by the object on which it is growing.
When grown in trees of a different color than itself, the creeper can add color contrast as well as textural contrast. This plant also has been used to cover ground-level structures, such as unattractive rock piles. The main drawback to the creeper is that after it is removed from walks, its tendrils may leave a residue on the cement. Also, if it isn't watched, it will cover things you don't want covered.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB