- Mature height
- 15m to 20m (climbing, with support)
- Mature width
- 5m to 10m (coverage dependent on pruning)
Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Boston ivy, is a vigorous deciduous climber that fastens itself to walls with sticky pads on short tendrils. The glossy three-lobed leaves overlap into a flat green sheet through spring and summer, then turn scarlet and burgundy in autumn before dropping to leave bare tracery.
It grows quickly, covering 10 to 15 metres of wall given time, and takes full sun or part shade in almost any drained soil. Cool temperate and temperate districts suit it best, and it is frost hardy once established. Wind and urban conditions do not bother it. Water steadily while it establishes.
Use it on brick and stone walls, boundary fences, retaining walls, pergolas and carpark structures where a green face is wanted without a support frame. Prune it clear of gutters, window frames and painted render. For a plain wall it is the quickest way to soften a hard surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Boston Ivy
What is Boston Ivy?
Parthenocissus tricuspidata is a deciduous self clinging climber in the grape family. It attaches to surfaces with adhesive pads on short tendrils, so it needs no wires or trellis. The three-lobed leaves overlap into a flat green cover through the warm months and turn deep red before dropping in autumn.
Is it evergreen or deciduous?
Deciduous. It loses its leaves through the colder months, leaving a fine tracery of stems on the wall. That is often an advantage, since the wall warms and dries in winter, and the summer cover returns quickly in spring. If you want year-round green, a different climber is the better choice.
How fast does it grow and how far will it climb?
It is vigorous once established and will cover 10 to 15 metres of wall given time, often putting on several metres in a good season. The first year is slower while the roots settle. Plan for the eventual extent, because it will keep going past gutters and window frames if nothing stops it.
Will it damage walls?
On sound brick, stone or concrete it is generally fine, and the adhesive pads do not penetrate the way some roots do. On painted, rendered or weatherboard surfaces, and on old mortar in poor condition, it can lift the finish, and removing it leaves marks. Keep it off gutters, tiles and window frames.
Does it need sun or shade?
It grows in full sun or part shade, and it will manage on a south-facing wall that gets very little direct light. Autumn colour is strongest in a sunny position and more muted in shade. Both aspects give reliable cover, so choose based on the wall you need covered rather than the light.
Is it frost tolerant?
Yes, it is frost hardy once established and it is at its best in cool temperate and temperate districts, where the winter chill drives the autumn colour. It also grows in warmer regions, though the colour change there is less dramatic and shorter lived. Wind and urban conditions do not trouble it.
How do I prune and care for it?
Water while it establishes and give it a well-drained soil at the base, ideally with the roots shaded. Prune in winter when the stems are bare and the outline is easy to read, cutting it back clear of gutters, windows and roof edges. An annual trim keeps it where you want it.
