Description
Ornamental ivy - Hedera helix ‘Baltica’
In a nutshell
Ornamental ivy, Hedera helix ‘Baltica’, is without doubt the most cold-resistant variety of ivy. That said, it can also withstand very hot weather.
The leaves are dark green with attractive silver to dark grey veins. The leaf blade has 3 to 5 lobes with shallow sinuses and rounded tips. In winter, the foliage turns a beautiful garnet-red.
This vigorous cultivar makes an excellent climber or ground cover.
History
This cultivar was discovered in 1907 in Latvia, near Riga, in a pine forest by the Baltic Sea, by Alfred Redher, Curator of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard.
Detailed sheet - Hedera helix 'Baltica'
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : helix
- Cultivar: ‘Balttica’
- Pierot classification: ivy type
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Europe, from Spain to Norway, but little on the Atlantic coast.
- Origin of the cultivar: discovered in 1907 in Latvia, near Riga, in a pine forest by the Baltic Sea, by Alfred Redher, Curator of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard.
Description of Hedera helix ‘Baltica’
- Growth habit: spreading
- Number of lobes: 3 to 5 lobes in general
- Leaf length: 4 to 5 cm
- Leaf width: 4 to 5 cm
- Colour of leaf: dark green
- Colour of veins: silver-grey
- Colour of stem and petiole: purplish green
- Branches: fairly widespread
- Hairs: stellate, 3 to 5 branches
Planting, cultivation and care instructions for Hedera helix ‘Baltica’
- Exposure: shade, part shade, sun
- Hardiness: -25°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral or chalky
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: ground cover, climber, pot, window box, hanging baskets
- Development: vigorous, rapid
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: very rare (spider mites, mealy bugs)
- Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)
Ivy in literature
“The ivy-covered walls seemed to breathe new life under this green embrace.”





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