F LORA & FAUNA
VIRGINIA CREEPER
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper is often mistaken for poison ivy . Poison ivy has three leaflets , while Virginia creeper has five , arranged like the open palm of your hand . This rambunctious vine can be left to romp under shrubs and trees as a ground cover or used to conceal unattractive areas due to its ability to blanket a space . The ornamental payoff comes when cooler temperatures trigger spectacular deep-red leaf color . Thirty-five species of songbirds devour the berries , and it plays host to several different moths , providing fat and protein for birds to winter over in place or grab a snack before heading back to migration .
TURKEY TANGLE FROGFRUIT
Phyla nodiflora
Turkey tangle frogfruit is one of its common names , though no one knows why . Often seen growing wild in our area , it forms a ground cover that loves sun , sand , and moisture . When in bloom , it stands four inches tall . It can be used as a turfgrass substitute that is mowable or utilized as a trailer amongst other potted plants . It blooms all year long and is semievergreen . It is a larval host plant for the common buckeye ( Junonia coenia ), phaon crescent ( Phyciodes phaon ), and white peacock ( Anartia jatrophae ) butterflies . Numerous other butterflies , moths , and bees visit for nectar .
80 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY