Parthenocissus tricuspidata Minutifolia- Boston Ivy

The Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Minutifolia' is a climbing plant with moderate growth, perfect for decorating walls or small facades, both in the ground and on balconies or terraces. Its beautiful deciduous foliage, composed of medium-sized lobed leaves, light green and vibrant in summer, takes on beautiful bronze and crimson to scarlet tones in autumn. This climbing plant, which attaches itself to its support through suction cups, can also form a beautiful ground cover. It is easy to cultivate: plant it in full sun, partial shade or even full shade, in ordinary but deep and well-prepared soil.

The Parthenocissus tricuspidata, also known as Boston ivy or Japanese ivy, belongs to the vitaceae family. It is native to eastern Asia (central and northern China, Korea, Japan) where it grows in woods and forests, as well as in rocky hills. This plant is naturalised in France.

The cultivar 'Minutifolia', obtained in France by Eugène Turbat in 1918, differs from the species by its greatly reduced growth and smaller leaves. It is a woody, deciduous climbing or creeping plant with a fairly rapid growth, not exceeding 3 to 4 m (10 to 13ft) in all directions at maturity. Its foliage is composed of long and wide leaves measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in), with toothed lobes. They are shiny, purplish when they first emerge, then take on a light green and vibrant colour in summer. The autumn colours are magnificent, ranging from bronze-green to orange to deep red, with shades enhanced by a shiny texture. In summer, its insignificant but honey-scented white-green inflorescences give way to blue-black berries.

Boston ivy is elegant, romantic, and luxurious: it transforms any support into a flamboyant drapery at the end of the season, offering an almost unreal spectacle capable of attracting the gaze from afar and captivating the wanderer in a melancholic contemplation. It is perfect for adding lushness to both vertical and horizontal surfaces. The Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Minutifolia', hardy up to -15°C (5°F), is very adaptable to different soil types and exposures, with its colours being more vibrant when its foliage receives sun for part of the day. Pruning it without constraints in any season will keep it within its space. With a compact size of 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet), this Boston ivy is ideal for enhancing small spaces, as a wall cover or ground cover. It can be planted at the base of a wall or facade, or on a slope. In autumn, blue blooms are stunning next to its gleaming foliage. For example, it can be paired with Cerastostigma or blue asters (Aster cordifolius 'Blue Heaven', Aster laevis 'Calliope'). If the wall is sound, there will be no damage caused by the growth of the Boston ivy. It would also protect the habitat from extreme heat and harsh winters, according to recent studies.