Life

The Casual Gardener: Wind scuppers autumn splendour of Virginia creeper

Virginia creepers offer one of autumn’s best foliage displays but be careful where you site them, writes John Manley

The Virginia creeper boasts one of autumn's best foliage displays
The Virginia creeper boasts one of autumn's best foliage displays The Virginia creeper boasts one of autumn's best foliage displays

ONE of the finest examples of a Virginia creeper in Ireland covers Butler House in Kilkenny city. Built in the late 18th century as part of the castle estate, Butler House is now a guest house, which has a front door opening on to the bustle of Patrick Street and a rear door that leads to serene gardens, which were restored to their original splendour in 2000 by the Kilkenny Civic Trust.

When I was there three years ago, the Virginia creeper covered the entire outside of the rear of the building, which is probably the equivalent area of a football pitch, or to adopt the Kilkenny vernacular, most of a hurling pitch.

I called Butler House earlier this week to check on its welfare. The receptionist was more than happy to provide me with an update, saying that last year some of it had mysteriously died but that other parts were still thriving. I enquired whether it still had its foliage. "Oh yes," came the reply, "though just about".

The reason I asked was that 125 miles north of Kilkenny on the Co Down coast, my own Virginia creeper shed its leaves more than a fortnight ago. It’s not often I’ll admit failure but insofar as showcasing some of the most eye-catching autumn foliage, the southern-facing gable has not been the success I’d hoped for.

There’s nothing whatsoever wrong with the creeper’s health. Planted the guts of a decade ago, after bedding-in, it soon took off skywards and now covers 80 per cent of the wall with thick foliage from May through to September. Until being cut back at the weekend, it had even encroached on to the roof in places.

Originating in North America – it's also known as American ivy – for me Virginia creepers shout class and sophistication; however, once established, they’re quite aggressive. It’s good to let them prosper, though, as the greater the area covered the better the impact come autumn when the leaves turn deep red.

The problem with mine seems to lie with what I once believed was its ideal location, which while perfect for catching the light necessary to accentuate the coloured foliage, is somewhat exposed to the south-westerly winds that come across Dundrum Bay and over the Quarter Mile hill.

The rest of the garden is protected by the house and a shelter belt of mainly native shrubs and trees. But not poor, vulnerable Parthenocissus quinquefolia (meaning five leaves). There is nothing between it and first harsh winds of autumn, the ones that ruthlessly strip it naked long before its Kilkenny cousin has dropped a handful of leaves.

Pretty much any decent soil is suitable for a Virginia creeper as its roots will seek out the necessary moisture and nutrients. Your concern is better concentrated on what goes on above ground. While its tendrils will grip a wall in the same manner as ivy, the Virginia creeper does not pose the same hazard to your home.

Whereas ivy destroys houses and should be kept a safe distance from any building, Parthenocissus quinquefolia is much more benign. Nevertheless, common sense applies and it should be kept clear of flashing and gutters, as the weight of the plant could dislodge them. If it does become unruly, it can be pruned back reasonably hard in winter and early spring without.

One drawback with the Virginia creeper, which was hinted at by the Butler House receptionist earlier this week, is having to lift the leaves, which once they start to fall will be lost "at a heck of rate".

And it’s not even that windy in Kilkenny.