Hardy,
evergreen, and
fast growing
dark emerald green leaves with prominent veins grace the long-lasting Hedera helix, commonly known as English ivy.
The glossy sheen of the 3-5
lobed
leaves are trademark English-countryside additions to any garden-scape decor.
The perennial, woody
vine
is
self-clinging
and as such, English ivy will be perfect as a
trailing
ground cover lawn alternative, especially
beneath large trees
or for covering large bald spots where grass refuses to grow.
Of course if you seek that cottage, historic feel, it is always a wonderful selection for
climbing
buildings, fences, trellises and walls.
English ivy is ideal for
slopes
and northern exposures (where
evergreen
is desired). It has a moderate to
fast growth rate,
and tolerates
infrequent
foot traffic.
English Ivy puts up with quite a wide range of soils though she prefers a rich loam; she'll grow in average to medium moisture and well-drained soils and likes to dry out between watering. She performs at her peak in
part
to
full shade
but will put up with
full sun
as well with her best variegation in part sun.
Some shade is ideal if you are in Zones 7-10, but you'll be happy to know she does
tolerate drought.
Things to Note
You will want to use caution when planting English Ivy if you live in a climate with mild winters where she will be very invasive. Consider using only in contained areas where you have the final say in how far she grows.
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If you are considering purchasing this plant in bare root form,
please read
about bare root plants
so you know what to expect.
- See all ivies
General information about Hedera helix:
Hedera ivies are tricky to water properly, especially if planted in summer.
See the Care tab for advice about watering and the Shipping tab if you are considering planting them in warm weather.
Hedera ivies tolerate full sun in northern zones (up to zone 6) and require at least partial shade in zones 7 and above.
The word "helix" is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "twist, turn" and refers to spirals in the leaves.
Hedera helix plants are also known as Ivy, Common Ivy, or English Ivy and are native to most of Europe and southwest Asia.
When there are suitable surfaces (e.g. trees, cliffs, walls), this
evergreen
climbs
up to 100 feet; when there are no vertical surfaces, it grows similarly well as a ground cover.
Hedera helix's short rootlets adhere to tree bark and rock, aiding longer climbs.
The leaves are alternate and 1 1/2- to 3-inch long, with 1- to 4-inch long
petioles.
Hedera offers two different leaf types when she is exposed to
full sun
locations like the top of a rock face, a southern building façade or the crowns of trees, creating lovely interest. These leaves,
palmately lobed
juvenile leaves on creeping and climbing stems, and
unlobed,
cordate,
adult leaves on fertile flowering stems, add both texture and variety with juvenile shoots being slender, flexible and willing to climb using tiny roots to attach themselves to surfaces like rock or tree bark and adults shoots that are both thicker and self-supporting with no roots.
In late Autumn, expect small, individual flowers blossoming in 1 to 2 inch greenish-yellow
umbels.
and in late winter, expect small blackberries that will thrill a variety of
birds.
Gardeners love Hedera Ivies because of their uniquely-shaped leaves and their
evergreen
often
variegated
foliage that promises to add texture, variety and constant color to their landscape. Famously, Hedera is known for its skill in adorning unsightly walls.
Things to Note
The esthetic, camouflaging of Hedera lands her into a bit of a debate. There has been disagreement as to whether it is harmful to the object being climbed by ivy; the consensus in Europe is that the effect is mostly insignificant. In fact, soundly-mortared walls are generally considered to be impenetrable to ivies’ climbing roots. Those who follow this frame of thinking will argue that walls are actually protected from weathering due to a shield of ivy keeping the elements off mortar. Walls with already weak or loose mortar, however, may be susceptible to damage, as ivy can cause breaks by rooting into the mortar. Subsequent removal of the ivy can be difficult, and is likely to cause more damage than the ivy itself. Modern mortars (that contain Portland cement and a little lime) are stronger than older mixes; the latter were largely composed of sand and lime. Most mortar mixes changed to contain Portland cement in the 1930s, though soft mortar is still used when laying softer brick.
At the same time, when the object is living, such as a tree, both may compete for ground nutrients and water, and trees with heavy growths of ivy are more liable to
windthrow,
North America sees greater dangers, as trees run the risk of perishing after becoming overworked. This could be due to the difference between native plants and those plants being introduced from other regions. In North America, Hederas lack the natural pests and diseases that control its vigor in native areas. Gardeners will want to consider the potential of this ivy to create a
vigorous,
dense,
shade-tolerant
evergreen
that can
spread
over large areas and out-compete native vegetation.
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These plants were very healthy and vibrant. They were planted today and will be a great addition to our yard. |
PLANTED THEM THE NEXT DAY. THEY WERE DELIVERED ON TIME AND WERE VERY HEALTHY PLANTS. |
arrived as advertised and on schedule |
The plants I received were in great shape after shipping. Solid value. I will be back. Thank you CG |
I was very pleased with my order of English Ivy, as well as the Baltic Ivy, Creeping Jenny and Turf Lily I also ordered. The plants arrived happy and healthy. They were packed very well and not at all dried out! Will purchase again! |
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Unless you know what you're doing, we do not recommend planting any Hedera ivies without a good month to get established before the heat of summer. We strongly recommend that you plant before mid-April or after mid-September (up to May 1 is OK in northern zones). It's tricky to water enough without over-watering (you must let the soil dry out between watering, but no so much that the plants die).
You may order them, but understand that we will not replace or refund should any perish. (more)
You may specify a future ship date when you checkout.
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- Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.
Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know
how many days delivery will take and
can control exactly
when your order will be shipped.
Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- Transit Time For Your Shipment (at most 3 days)
- When We Ship
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- No Shipments To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA or internationally
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns
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