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Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston Ivy · Grape Ivy · Japanese Creeper

Family VitaceaeGenus Parthenocissus

A concrete railway pillar and the beam above it smothered from top to bottom in a close mat of overlapping green leaves.
The whole plantGohachiyasu1214CC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
lianaPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, VinePLANTS Database
Height
30-60 ft9-18 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
5-10 ft1.5-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China North-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Primorye and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

92% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187Public domain
Show the original text
Parthenocissus (Vitaceae). P. tricuspidata germ. best in 70(98% in 2-6 d) and 40(98% in 7-14w) using seed that had been DS 6 rn at 40 or 70 in the dried berry and WC 7 d before sowing. Fresh seed germ. less as shown by 70(41%) and 40(92%). Fresh seed is more difficult to wash than dried seed, and this maybe a factor.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

7 days from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

92% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187Public domain
Show the original text
Parthenocissus (Vitaceae). P. tricuspidata germ. best in 70(98% in 2-6 d) and 40(98% in 7-14w) using seed that had been DS 6 m at 40 or 70 in the dried berry and WC 7 d before sowing. Fresh seed germ. less as shown by 70(41%) and 40(92%). Fresh seed is more difficult to wash than dried seed, and this maybe a factor.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  4. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

41% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187Public domain
Show the original text
Parthenocissus (Vitaceae). P. tricuspidata germ. best in 70(98% in 2-6 d) and 40(98% in 7-14w) using seed that had been DS 6 rn at 40 or 70 in the dried berry and WC 7 d before sowing. Fresh seed germ. less as shown by 70(41%) and 40(92%). Fresh seed is more difficult to wash than dried seed, and this maybe a factor.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

7 days from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

41% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187Public domain
Show the original text
Parthenocissus (Vitaceae). P. tricuspidata germ. best in 70(98% in 2-6 d) and 40(98% in 7-14w) using seed that had been DS 6 m at 40 or 70 in the dried berry and WC 7 d before sowing. Fresh seed germ. less as shown by 70(41%) and 40(92%). Fresh seed is more difficult to wash than dried seed, and this maybe a factor.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parthenocissus p. 187. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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