Have you ever taken a close look at Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)? This common native vine is sometimes confused with poison ivy. Virginia creeper’s leaves are almost always in groups of five, while poison ivy’s leaves are in groups of three. You don’t need to worry about touching Virginia creeper. It will not make you itch.
Along the trails, you’ll mostly see this vine as a few groups of leaves on the ground. Sometimes, you’ll see it climbing vertically on a tree, fence or wall. Other times, you’ll see it in dense mats covering the ground.
If you look carefully at a climbing vine, you’ll notice little adhesive discs that allow the vine to stick to the surface it is growing along.
This time of year, if you happen to see a large patch, you might see the flowers or flower buds. I found a large clump with flower buds this year. I am waiting for the flowers to bloom and will post the picture here later. The flowers bloom between May and July. In August, the berries will start to ripen and turn blue. (I am hopeful to get a picture of them, too.) Note that the berries are poisonous to humans, but the birds will enjoy them! The leaves turn red in the fall.
Next time you take a walk on the trail, take a closer look at Virginia creeper.