Hardy, fast-growing evergreen leaves climb walls, fences and wrought-iron archways, or spread flat as ground cover: ivy (Hedera helix) is the easiest of deep green backdrops, the foil that makes more colourful plants stand out. Give it any ordinary soil and sun or shade — but keep it off old, friable walls, where its roots prise bricks apart.
| Name | Hedera helix |
|---|---|
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Type | climbing vine |
| Height | 16 to 65 feet (5 to 20 m) |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun, shade |
| Soil | ordinary |
| Foliage | evergreen |
Caring for ivy is easy since it adapts to all types of soil and pleases itself most anywhere.
Favor planting in fall or spring and avoid freezing temperatures.
Water abundantly especially at the beginning.
Ivies are chosen mostly on leaf colour and on how fast they cover a surface. The following are widely sold in garden centres and seed catalogues, and several hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
| Variety | Foliage | Vigour | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Green Ripple’ | Deeply cut green leaves with pale veins | Moderate | Textured green backdrop, ground cover |
| ‘Dentata Variegata’ | Huge leaves edged creamy white | Very vigorous | Fences, tunnels, large screens |
| ‘Sulphur Heart’ | Very large leaves splashed yellow-green | Very vigorous | Covering big ugly walls quickly |
| ‘Glacier’ | Small grey-green leaves with cream margins | Moderate | Pots, indoor plant walls, low walls |
| ‘Goldheart’ | Dark green leaves with a bold yellow centre | Vigorous | Brightening shaded walls and fences |
| ‘Buttercup’ | Soft yellow leaves, greener in shade | Moderate | Sunny walls where a light patch is wanted |
| ‘Gloire de Marengo’ | Large glossy leaves with white margins | Vigorous | Sheltered walls, containers, mild gardens |
Let the ivy climb both as ground and wall cover.
You can trim it easily if it grows too large, and this doesn’t alter its growth.
The main appeal of ivy is in its reliable, hardy evergreen leafage. It’s a favorite to create a deep green backdrop against which other colorful plants can stand out.
There are scores of ways to use it, from the usual wall-covering to smother an otherwise ugly surface, to setting up along fences and tunnels.
Archways and sculptures made of wrought iron are always stunning when paired with lush, green ivy. It’s as if the emerald colors of the vine and the sheer brute force of iron and steel make each other feel alive.
Illustrious on ancient manors, ivy is an excellent wall cover that can grow to unfathomable sizes.
Hardy and rather fast-growing, it will reach a point where getting rid of it will be a real challenge… Cutting off large stems and consistently removing any new shoots immediately will wear the plant out over about two years.
Grow ivy as an addition to an indoor living plant wall. Slow growth and thick leaves will ensure a lot of greenery!
Best is to grow it in suspensions or garden boxes to keep it under control.
Take care because ivy can damage walls, especially if they’re old and friable. Roots thread their way between bricks and stones and disjoint them.
