Description
Irish ivy - Hedera hibernica ‘Argarai’
In a nutshell
Irish ivy, Hedera hibernica ‘Argarai’, To this day, it is the only ivy in Ireland with leaves that are broadly variegated with creamy white on the edges.
The centre of the leaf blade is tinted more or less dark green or grey-green. The leaf is large and has 5 lobes.
This ivy does very well in the sun, but looks even better in the shade.
History
This cultivar was discovered by Iñaki Garmendia in 2017 in Pamplona, in the village of Argarai. As Iñaki recounts, , « lhe village of Argarai lies close to the River Arga, but separated from it by a steep ravine. On this steep slope covered with elm trees and an undergrowth of wild ivy, a small path leads down to the spot where the author discovered this variegated-leaved plant in the summer of 2017.» (Source Bouteloua)
Detailed sheet - Hedera hibernica 'Argarai'
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : hibernica
- Cultivar: ‘Argarai’
- Pierot classification: variegated ivy
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Atlantic coast of Europe
- Origin of cultivar: discovered in 2017 by Iñaki Garmendia in the Basque Country
Description of Hedera hibernica ‘Argarai’
- Growth habit: spreading
- Number of lobes: usually 5 shallow lobes
- Leaf length: 7 to 10 cm
- Sheet width: 7 to 10 cm
- Leaf colour: various shades of green with a creamy white border around the edge of the leaf blade
- Colour of veins: cream or grey-green
- Leaf base: cordate or truncated
- Leaf apex: acute
- Colour of stem and petiole: greenish purple
- Length of petiole: 7 to 10 cm
- Branches: few branches
- Mattress thickness: not very thick
- Knot spacing: 5 cm
- Hairs: stellate, smaller than in Hedera helix.
Planting, cultivation and care instructions for Hedera hibernica ‘Argarai’
- Exposure: shade, part shade, sun
- Hardiness: -15°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral, calcareous or acidic
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: pots, window boxes, houseplants, ground cover
- Development: moderate
- Growth rate: medium
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: rare (e.g. otiorhynchs)
- Diseases: rare (e.g. leaf spots)
Ivy in literature
“You'll see that one day we'll be making ivy cloth for faithful friends and weeping willow for inconsolable widows! ”







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