Parthenocissus henryana
# Parthenocissus henryana

Parthenocissus henryana (Chinese Virginia-creeper or silver vein creeper) is a species of flowering plant in the vine family Vitaceae, native to China.

## Description

It is a vigorous, deciduous tendril climber growing to 10 m (33 ft). It has a more restrained growth than the other Virginia creepers. The large palmate leaves consist of five to nine oval leaflets, each up to 12 cm (5 in) long, with strong white veining. The leaves colour to a brilliant red in autumn before falling. Clusters of inconspicuous flowers in summer may be followed by black fruits.

## Cultivation

It was named for the Irish plant collector Augustine Henry (1857–1930) who discovered the species on his tour of Central China in the 1880s. It was introduced to Great Britain by another great plant collector, Ernest Henry Wilson, in 1903. In China it grows on moist rocks, at heights of 100–1,500 m (328–4,921 ft).

Parthenocissus henryana can grow on walls and trellising, in large pots, and as a groundcover on slopes. It is propagated from seeds or cuttings. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

