(Ampelopsis sempervirens, Parthenocissus striata, Vitis striata)
This is a vigorous evergreen climber which produces clinging tendrils and can grow up to 30ft with some support on a wall or up through a mature tree. The palmate leaves are 1.5-3in across and composed of five dark green leaflets which are coarsely toothed at the points.
At Ventnor Botanic Gardens this plant grows up through huge evergreen Quercus ilex trees where its green flowers hang down in small cymes. These are followed by green grape or currant like fruits which turn black when ripe. It has performed similarly on a wall in the nursery.
With us this species of cissus has proved completely hardy unlike other South American species within this large genus which we have occasionally tried to grow.
At first sight it looks more like a vine than another separate genus and so its alternative names imply.
