Save it. It's pretty and I hate to see something like that destroyed. Even if you don't want it, I'm sure you could trade it for something you do want.

It is however considered an invasive vine just in case that matters!

The variegated type is pretty weak growing - not thuggish at all, in my experience. Also I've heard it often doesn't flower/fruit so is less likely to self-seed. But then, many plants aren't invasive at all in my climate that would be a problem elsewhere.

I've had this Porcelaine vine for many years behind a low stone wall in a sitting area. Very showy and the berries are beautiful; but it has a nasty habit of trying to twine itself into the snowball bush nearby. In fact, it will reach out and up to most anything, I just pull it away. ornata is correct when she describes it as "weak growing" in that the vines will bruise and break fairly easily if treated roughly, and it hasn't increased that much in size after all this time. Last year, the Japanese beetles nearly destroyed it! I had to de-beetle at least twice a day I swear.

years ago i learned from a local horticulturalist to grow this in the shade to avoid JBs. i have 3 variegated ones and they are weak. invasive is not in their repertoire.unfortunately.
i am going to try to coddle them this year and see if i can get them to become more vigorous.
best,
mindy

Half of mine is in shade, the other half in sun. arbo is right, the shaded half got fewer JBs! Never occurred to me that was the reason. Thanks.

So you all think it is
worthy of saving.
First time I have seen
one growing in the wild
that is varigated.

Blueangel

I vote yes. Than later if you are unhappy with it, give it away.

Call me an idiot... but what the heckers are JBs?

I think JBs are Japanese Beetles but it could be June bugs. LOL.

No, no, no. . .JB's are jelly beans. . .

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I'm NOT too wild about this plant. . .in the far corner of the garden (where I seldom
go to focus my attention), I was delighted at how my
Viburnum trilobum 'Wentworth' was putting on a stupendous
burst of growth this year (I'm viewing from a distance,
remember!) When I finally took a closer look last week,
the explosive growth was Ampelopsis, which I thought I had killed off last season, nearly smothering the viburnum. . .
Ripped it all out, only to discover dozens and dozens of
little babies over the fence on my neighbor's side - now it
looks like I'll be resorting to Round-Up. . .

It all boils down to proper siting, I guess, because I have
seen it very successfully used in other gardens - your
comments about the variegated being less invasive are
interesting. . .I'm tempted to give it a try.

Carl

I'm wondering why the variegated doesn't seed down as well, and I don't recall seeing birds eating the berries and distributing seed that way. No babies that I know of, but now I'll have to investigate. Truthfully, I don't always get alot of berries every year either. Especially not like it did when it was only a couple years old. Maybe it needs more sun.

i'm guessing from many different threads of info- that variegated forms of plants are usually weaker than their non-variegated counterparts.same for aurea cultivars.which is why i'm so against 'forbidden to sell' invasives lists that are designed for john q public. i'm thinking of berberis, ampelopsis, lysimachia etc.
best,
mindy

I think they're gorgeous and I'd love to be able to find one.
I've contacted 2 on-line nurseries and both are sold out for the year.

ncgal,
maybe you already saw this (they listed the variega ampelopsis in their plant list) but you could call them, ask to speak to a salesman, and ask what nurseries in your area they sell to and/or what nurseries in your state have bought this specific plant from them.
best,
mindy

Nurseries Caroliniana
A southern nursery growing select and unique woodies, perennials, vines and natives
20 Stephens Estate, North Augusta, SC, 29860,
Phone: 803-278-2336
Fax: 803-278-5574

i found a vendor !
best,
mindy
http://www.bloomriver.com/home/br2/page_263

Here is a link that might be useful: vendor of ampelopsis variega.

In NC, this is a very invasive vine. Had it for several years before it started springing up in my yard and the neighbors' yard. To top that off, it will draw japanese beetles to your yard by the millions. I yanked it and killed it after several seasons and still find volunteers springing up every where. Kill it while you can.

I have one of these vines that I'm growing in a large pot on my deck. It's new this season and is growing well. However, the leaves are not variegated. Is this something that happens as the vine matures? Also, I'd like to know what to expect from it over the winter. Will it die back and reemerge in the spring? Or just stay as it is and go dormant? Or continue to grow? Thanks for any info.

The leaves start out dark or even pale red when first emerging, then become variegated. Can't give you reliable information about the growing of it in pots, but in the ground it loses it's leaves in fall but the vines remain. They may appear dead, but they are not.

The berries are so beautiful on this plant, but it looks like I won't have many at all this year. Japanese Beetles continue to dine on the leaves, making swiss cheese out of them; and the tiny immature white berries are disappearing.

Hey ncgal, did you get your varieg. ampelopsis from the source i posted for you? (you never replied.)

my variegated ampel. does not have reddish new growth here in Ma.; that would be so lovely!!

If your plant is a truly variegated variety, it will show the variegation in its first season.if it doesn't, get a refund from your vendor.

In the plant world, variegated plants( and yellow leaved) do not come true from seed, only from vegetative propogation.
best,
mindy

arbo retum - a pale red on newly emerging stems and leaves, doesn't last long.

sounds just lovely!
best,
mindy