Silver Lace Vine
(Russian Vine)
Polygonum (Fallopia) aubertii
A whiff of sub-culture: silver lace vine overgrowing a pub of the trendy scene
These (not always so clearly visible) knotty thickenings in the old wood give the plant its German common name
This silver lace vine has strangled synthetic rope
Silver lace vine even pushes sturdy steel cables off their axis, over-stretching them which can also cause damage to the brackets.
The typical winter "decoration" on houses, so delightful to many of us, however, is not everybody's "cup of tea..."
Silver lace vine after pruning
The Silver Lace Vine or Russian Vine is a popular twining climber, as its extremely vigorous growth habit makes this an ideal plant to cover extensive areas fast.
Requirements
Sunny (full sun) to semi-shaded Position, and even in shade. Is not very fussy in terms of soils, but moist and nutrient rich soil will encourage growth and longer lasting foliage in autumn.
Growth and Leaves
A strong twiner, and in fact one of the most vigorous climbers. Grows up to 8 meters per year. Stem development is considerable, hence overgrowing of downpipes, lightning conductors etc must be avoided, similar as for the Wisteria. Dense foliage mats, often cascading, train-like growth. New shoots from March / April, then, with good water provision and in a protected position, foliage will last until November.
Flower and Fruit
From July until September continuously, with delicate panicles. Fruit rare.
Growth Support Systems
Solid, best rod-like growth supports, designed to expected plant height and width. Lightning conductors, downpipes, eave gutters and the like are not to be reached by the plants, growth supports should have a distance of at least 1.5m to all such building structures and to the gutter, to the side as well as to the top. For suitable growth support systems see below. Only Heavy Duty Growth Support Systems, for pot plants Light and Medium Growth Support Systems are possible.
Pruning
Vigorous pruning towards the end of winter usually benefits the silver lace vine.
Further Notes
Silver lace vine is to be planted only in areas which provide ample space and/or height for its vigorous growth habit.
If planted together with other climbing plants, it will strongly invade the other climbers and possibly crowd them out.
At the rear of a high-set garage cube, which has been "beautified" with a gable roof to blend into the old city, timber pergola in front, both overgrown with silver lace vine on wire ropes.
Silver lace vine camouflages 2 ventilation ducts. However, overgrowing of the eave gutter must be prevented.
Silver lace vine before clearing
During a restoration, the growth on the gable to the right (see photo above) was removed, making the house look "orderly" again...
This silver lace vine is being supported by a lofty timber trellis
Silver lace vine is also suitable for cultivation in pots, here as a visual screen in a street cafe. In pots it grows to much less gigantic proportions than in the ground.
Unpruned silver lace vine on wire mesh system in winter
In this wintry night, the insufficiently pruned sliver lace vine above the street light exudes a rather romantic and "Christmasy" air..
Silver lace vine growing into shade mesh, here an intentional effect. |
Wire rope system 4020 for silver lace vine left and right (covered) of stairwell, heavy duty kit. |
Silver Lace Vine after planting..... |
.... and 1 year later. |
A green roof of silver lace vine covers a wheelie bin area |
Due to its vigorous leaf growth, greening of entry gates with silver lace vine is only advisable under the right conditions (ie regular trimming).. |
