Description
Ornamental ivy - Hedera helix ‘Temptation’
In a nutshell
Ornamental ivy, Hedera helix ‘Temptation’, is an ivy with a small leaf of 2 to 2.5 cm, with 5 to 7 lobes pointing forwards. The median lobe is often divided into two parts.
The leaf blade is green with grey spots and irregular creamy white margins.
This is a plant with few branches. The shoots are short, with stiff stems. The whole plant forms a carpet that is fairly low to the ground. An attractive ground cover for small areas of the garden.
History
According to the authors, this cultivar is either a mutation of ‘Gertrud Strauss’ or »Anne-Marie’. It was introduced into the Netherlands around 1990. It was successively named ‘Willy’, ‘White Gertrude’ until Tim Landers gave it the name ‘Temptation’ in 1994 when it was registered by the American Ivy Society.
Technical details - Hedera helix 'Temptation'
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : helix
- Cultivar: ‘Temptation’
- Synonyms: ‘White Gertrude’, ’Willy'.’
- Pierot classification: variegated ivy, type ivy
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Europe, from Spain to Norway, but little on the Atlantic coast.
- Origin of cultivar: sport of ‘Gertrud Strauss’ or »Anne-Marie’
Description of Hedera helix ‘Temptation’
- Growth habit: stocky, spreading
- Number of lobes: 3 to 5 lobes in general
- Leaf length: 2.5 cm
- Sheet width: 2 cm
- Leaf colour: green with grey spots and irregular creamy white margins
- Colour of veins: green and cream
- Stem: lightly branched
- Colour of stem and petiole: greenish red
- Hairs: stellate, 3 to 5 branches
Planting, cultivation and care instructions for Hedera helix ‘Temptation’
- Exposure: sun, part shade
- Hardiness: -15°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral or chalky
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: ground cover, hanging baskets, pots, window boxes
- Development: moderate
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: very rare (spider mites, mealy bugs)
- Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)
Ivy in literature
“The ivy, entwined with the ruins, mourns the fallen grandeur of our ancestors.”







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