Silver Vein Creeper

Silver Vein Creeper (Parthenocissus henryana) covers a bare wall quickly without a trellis. It climbs on its own adhesive pads to about 6m with a 3m spread, and every dark green leaf is marked with silver white veins that read from across the garden. In autumn the whole wall turns deep crimson before the leaves drop for winter.

Why you'll love it

• It climbs on its own. Self clinging pads grip brick, block, stone and render without wires or a frame.
• Two seasons of foliage. Silver veined leaves with a purple flush through spring and summer, then crimson and scarlet through autumn, all without a flower.
• Fast cover on a big surface. Six metres of height and a 3m spread takes a two storey wall or a long fence run in a few seasons.
• Happy in shade. It performs in part shade where most climbers thin out, and the silver veining is most distinct out of harsh sun.
• Hardy and undemanding. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, with one prune a year.

Where it works best

Screening a wall or fence. Plant 1.5m apart to cover a wall or fence. The stems interlace within two to three seasons, giving even cover.

Retaining walls and slopes. It runs down a wall as readily as up one, and on a bank it doubles as a groundcover.

Feature planting. Grown up a pergola post or a dead tree, it turns a plain vertical into the strongest foliage in the garden through autumn.

Growing Silver Vein Creeper in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to full sun. This is a cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean plant, and properly frost hardy. Autumn colour is strongest where nights turn cold, so humid subtropical and tropical gardens get the foliage but not the display.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains. Dig the hole about 300mm out from the wall footing rather than hard against it, work compost through the backfill, and mulch 75mm deep.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. It rarely needs feeding, and a heavy feed just produces more growth to cut off.

Pruning. Prune hard in late winter while the plant is bare and the framework is visible. Keep growth clear of gutters and window frames, because it climbs into any gap it finds. The pads mark paint and render when pulled away.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in two sizes. Tube stock is listed on backorder, so allow extra time there; each tube is a young rooted plant with one or two stems and no length on it yet. The 140mm pack of 10 is the practical choice for a long fence or a big wall, since you need a plant every 1.5m.

Plants arriving in winter may be bare stemmed and look lifeless. That is normal for a deciduous climber, not a fault. Expect little visible growth in the first season, then rapid extension from the second spring. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full climbing plant range
• Plants for autumn colour
• Planting retaining walls and slopes
• Climbing fig care guide

Common questions

Will it damage my wall?

On sound brick, block or stone it causes no structural harm. It is a poor choice on painted or rendered surfaces and old lime mortar, because the pads pull away paint and lodge in soft joints.

Is it safe around pets?

No. The berries and sap are not pet safe, and the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning. Choose something else if your dog eats what it finds in the garden.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

Yes, it is deciduous: crimson colour through autumn, bare stems over winter, fresh leaves from mid spring. That suits a north facing wall, where winter sun reaches the house while it is bare.