Parthenocissus tricuspidata is a deciduous woody vine, with dark green leaves divided into 3 leaflets. It spreads indefinitely and has spectacular deep red fall color.

When given something to climb, it climbs aggressively with adhesive tendrils to 100 feet. It is widely grown as a climbing ornamental plant to cover buildings. This usage is economically important because, by shading walls during the summer, it can significantly reduce cooling costs.

While the plant does not penetrate the building surface but merely attaches with adhesive pads, nevertheless damage can occur from attempting to rip the plant from the wall. However, if the plant is killed first, such as by severing the vine from the root, the adhesive pads will eventually deteriorate to the point where the plant can be easily removed.