Habitat

• native to Europe and North Africa
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous twining vine
• 10' to 20' tall, depending on structure
• medium texture
• fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• opposite, simple leaves
• simple, deciduous leaves
• ovate leaf shape
• entire leaf margin
• 1.5" to 2.5" long
• 1" to 1.5" wide
• leafs out early
• dark green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color
• leaves drop green

Flowers

• creamy white flowers with a purplish tinge
• fragrant
• tubular up to 2" long
• two-lipped
• found in whorls on spikes
• blooms in spring and sporadic through season

Fruit

• deep, red berries
• 0.25" in diameter
• matures in September

Bark

• twining, thin stems
• tan colored
• glabrous

Culture

• easy to grow
• easily transplanted
• prefers well-drained, neutral soil
• full sun to shade
• needs support
• prune after flowering

Landscape Use

• quick covering vine
• bank cover
• fence cover
• arbor
• fore fragrance
• for flowering effect
• attracts hummingbirds

Liabilities

• powdery mildew
• leaf spot

ID Features

• twining vine
• white flowers with a purplish tinge
• flowers are not fragrant
• opposite leaf arrangement
• small red fruit
• no fall color

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Belgica' - The stems and leaves of this form bear a purplish tinge, while the blooms are purple-red outside and lighter inside. It is an old selection that is still commonly offered.

'Harlequin' - The leaves of this new selection are variegated with a creamy margin that often bears pink highlights. Other variegated forms are known, such as 'Serotina Variegata' and 'Variegata'.

'Graham Thomas' - This popular favorite reliably produces ample quantities of light yellow blooms.

'Manul' (Berries Jubilee™) - This cultivar bears questionable affinity to the species. It produces yellow blooms that are followed by red fruit.

'Serotina' (also listed as 'Serotina Florida') - Commonly offered in specialty catalogs, this cultivar blooms slightly later than the species and over a longer period. The blooms are purple-red outside and creamy inside, though the strong color fades with age.