IVY
HEDERA HELIX
There are many forms of Hedera helix and their vigor, leaf color, and size vary greatly. However, all of them are easy to grow and can cope with cool, unheated rooms. Don’t dismiss ivies as houseplants—they deserve to be celebrated and can grow where others will not.
HEIGHT 5ft (1.5m)
SPREAD 36in (90cm)
FLOWERS Insignificant
FOLIAGE Variegated or plain green
LIGHT Filtered sun/shade
TEMPERATURE 41–68°F (5–20°C)
CARE Easy
PLACE OF ORIGIN Most of Europe
CARE
Most modern homes have central heating and are well insulated, but if you’re looking for a houseplant that copes in cold rooms, this plant is ideal: a cool but frost-free location is perfect for ivy. It not only puts up with changes in temperature but also tolerates drafts.
Plant in commercial potting mix. In the growing season, keep this just moist, but reduce watering slightly in winter. Never let ivy dry out. Your plants will manage without feeding, but providing them with application of a balanced fertilizer every month in spring and summer will certainly improve their performance.
Keep plants looking compact and neat by pruning to shape as and when required and repot every other year to improve their health and vigor.
Choose plain green or variegated ivy to trail or climb in your home.
PROBLEM SOLVING Variegated plants have a tendency to revert to green. This is easily solved by cutting out the stem to prevent green leaves from taking over, then moving the plant to a position that receives more light.
If the leaf tips of your ivy turn brown it’s most likely that the air is too dry, so treat the plant to a regular misting.
DISPLAY
Smaller forms of ivy are perfect for the edge of a generous container, while larger types are ideal for covering trellis or trailing from a hanging basket. If the plant is allowed to climb, it will attach to a wall by itself—in an interior, use a trellis to protect your walls.
You can have tremendous fun training ivy over supports in your home. Buy shaped training supports that are designed to push into your container and then wind the growth into it. Other climbing plants such as the rose grape and stephanotis can also be trained in this way and displayed with ivy.
Houseplants A–Z | IVY
ALSO TRY
Growing climbing/trailing plants in hanging baskets is increasingly popular. Ivy is often displayed in this way, but if you’re looking for other trailing, basket plants, try:
- String of turtles (Peperomia prostrata), trail 28in (70cm). This plant has flat, round leaves decorated with a marble pattern.
- Teddy bear vine (Cyanotis beddomei), trail 24in (60cm). This plant is named for its soft and hairy leaves, which have an attractive, maroon underside.
String of turtles will thrive in a sunny room with low humidity.