There are colorful bracts surrounding the flower head. This plant is found across the southern US and its range extends northward into the central plains.  The range in the western panhandle may be disjunct from the range further south and east in Florida.

Allow to climb on trellis, trees, or building masonry. The tendrils of Virginia creeper are tipped with adhesive-like disks that gives the vine the ability of cementing itself to surfaces. Unlike many vines, these tendrils will not penetrate the surface of the masonry which can be detrimental to the structure. Can be used as a ground cover.

It forms root nodules with a symbiont fungus to fix its own nitrogen; so it grows well in poor or sterile soil. Its persistent fruit looks like a very small pine cone. Informal specimen plant or could be used as a mass planting or hedge in moist areas. It is usually a multi-stemmed tall shrub.