Virginia creeper

Despite its name, this fast-growing vine is native not only to Virginia but to states throughout the eastern half of the United States, including New York. Admired for its deep-red autumnal foliage, the plant’s berries turn from green to purple in the winter and are an important food source for many bird species, including mockingbirds, cardinals, and blue jays. While the berries are poisonous to humans, the plant itself has many documented uses by Indigenous communities, including the Haudenosaunee, who use the twigs to create a wash to treat the rash caused by poison sumac and other skin conditions.