This attractive vigorous native vine in the grape family can be found growing in woods throughout east and central North America. It has strong, thick stems covered with large palmate toothed leaves with five lobes. 'Engelmannii' has smaller leaves than the species. In fall, the leaves turn a beautiful crimson. The flowers and fruit are not ornamentally significant, but birds relish the little black berries. It will grow quickly in any kind of soil, its rampant growth stopped only by clippers. In woodlands it may be seen climbing high into trees, where it may be mistaken for poison ivy, but remember –poison ivy has leaves of three. Its best use in the garden is to cover a semi-shady slope or a sturdy fence. It can climb walls, hanging on with its tendrils, but the more delicate Boston ivy would be a better choice. It is resistant to deer.