Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is a climber that can grow higher than 15m tall and wider than 8 metres wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata).
This plant has several common names including: Boston ivy, Japanese creeper or Japanese ivy.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 5-10 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Boston ivy, Japanese creeper, Japanese ivy
Scientific name: Parthenocissus tricuspidata
Plant type: Climbers
Habit: Climbing
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: Wider than 8 metres
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full shade, Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Planting type: Wall-side Borders
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) – Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Versatile and decorative, climbing plants can make great contributions to creative garden designs.
Their rambunctious branches complement other plants and adorn structures with flowers and foliage.
Climbers are often used as a backdrop for other plants or are grown on pergolas to provide shade and height for the garden.
You can also create focal points by interweaving them through trees, pyramids and pillars, or train them on a trellis to form partitions between different areas of the garden.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Parthenocissus tricuspidata likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Sunlight
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) grows well in full sun, although it can also be grown in shady places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) – あおもりくま,(Aomorikuma), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
