Woodbine mostly trails along the ground but can climb bushes, trees, or fences. The green flowers are brief, ugly, and inconspicuous; one is shown on the left. In the spring you're more likely to notice tiny pointed buds. It's easy to ID woodbine using the serrated five-part leaves and the berries (green in early summer; darkening to blue-black late in the year). In the fall the leaves can turn a spectacular red.

Woodbine requires decent amounts of water. In the woods you'll find a wild species, Parthenocissus inserta. In New Mexico towns you'll find woodbine as a garden plant or escapee (P. quinquefolia). For an amateur flower hunter, they're indistinguishable.