Performance in Common Gardens of Parthenocissus quinquefolia from Diverse Provenances to Enhance Dune Restorations

Gage, A.S. and Handel, S.N., 2026. Performance in common gardens of Parthenocissus quinquefolia from diverse provenances to enhance dune restorations. Journal of Coastal Research, 42(6), 1228–1237. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Addition of the vine Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Vitaceae) to coastal restorations would increase biodiversity and ecological functions over typical beachgrass monocultures. To determine whether dune ecotypes of P. quinquefolia, which have shown increased tolerance to foliar salt spray, should be preferentially added to dune restoration plantings, plants from both habitats were planted in four greenhouse and common garden experiments. In a greenhouse test of vine seedlings, plants of inland provenance had greater root and stem biomass than plants of dune provenance, but no difference in leaf biomass was found. Vines were then tested in three outdoor common garden sites in New Jersey: an inland agricultural field, an undisturbed sand dune, and a restored sand dune. The vines established in all habitat types; however, survival and total plant biomass were much lower at coastal dune sites than the inland common garden. Plant provenance had no effect on survival or biomass at the outdoor common garden sites, supporting use of P. quinquefolia seedlings from all tested provenances to improve restoration actions. This approach facilitates the addition of this species to increase wildlife resources and aesthetic quality and also gives a new erosion control tool to dune restoration practice.