10/24/2026
Be careful, poison ivy has similar leaves but usually only three!
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is an abundant vine in Georgia, probably found in every county of Georgia by now. Named for its five leaflets (quinquefolia), an important way to distinguish it from poison ivy (which has 3). Occasionally, it will have a FEW leaves with only 3 leaflets, so keep looking if you want to be sure what you’re seeing. It is a host plant for several Sphinx moths.
Virginia creeper has great fall color with a pretty good variety of different colors, from bright to subdued. Bright blue berries also indicate it is not poison ivy; that vine has white berries. These berries are a little posed for illustration; the berries can be hidden within the foliage a bit. Don’t eat the berries – they are not edible for humans and will make you very sick. Please leave them for the birds who love them so.
