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Gold Child Ivy {3 1/4 in. Pots, min 25}
2 customer reviews
Hedera helix 'Gold Child' (AKA Goldchild', 'Gold Baby', Golden Ivy)
Pronunciation: HED-er-uh HEE-liks GOLD CHILD
Product: 736
Shipping description: This product cannot be shipped to AZ, CA, NV, OR, or WA

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Content note — AI-assisted: Some images, descriptions, and specs on this page may have been generated with AI and might not be perfect. If you’re new to this plant, please check verified photos [here] and feel free to contact us with questions.
For divinely rich ivy, consider Hedera helix 'Gold Child.' With her stunning, variegated 2-3 inch leaves bordered in gold, you'll gain pleasing color for your garden. In hot weather, the margins become creamy-white - making her a lovely contrast to blue flowers. In full shade the leaves darken giving the feel of historic luxury.

A proficent climber and trailing ground cover lawn alternative (especially beneath large trees) makes this a perfect decorative solution for slopes, buildings, trellises, walls, and any other bald spot where grass won't grow.

With a moderate to fast growth rate and a willingness to tolerate infrequent foot traffic, Gold Child is ideal for slopes and northern exposures where evergreen leaves are desirable. Gold Child 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.

Gardener Tips
Gold Child is a favorite of flower designers for spring time arrangements and wreathes. Consider trimming her back in springtime so you can use your clippings to adorn your front door in a wreath embellished with sprigs of creeping phlox.

- See all ivies
See other plants that go well with this plant.
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.
Specifications
Shipping
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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Shipping information that applies to all plants:
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Care
The main reason why we recommend that you do not plant Hedera ivies in the summer is because it is tricky to water enough without over-watering.

You must let the soil dry out between watering, but not so much that the plants die. Stick your finger three inches into the soil, if you feel any moisture at all, do not water them.
In areas where spreading is not desired, trim back the runners before they take root or prune ruthlessly once a year.
General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

Reviews
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Brightens up shadier areas
05/04/2016 By Denis Spector
Product reviewed: Gold Child Ivy {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

Nice quality plants arrived rapidly and in good condition. The pale yellow edges brighten up shadier areas. But it'll take at least one growing season to see how they fare.
Great experience
04/21/2016 By David Ferguson
Product reviewed: Gold Child Ivy {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

The plants were even better than expected. Nice full plants in excellent condition!

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