Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’ - Irish Ivy
Ivy with small leaves generally consisting of 5 lobes, often different, some of which are digitate, hence its name.
Slow growth, short stems.
Lovely colouring in dry, cold winter weather.
From 5.90 €
Description
Irish ivy - Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’
In a nutshell
Irish ivy, Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’, is an ivy with small leaves, generally consisting of 5 lobes.
They are often different and some are digitate, hence the name. This variety grows relatively slowly. Its stems remain rather short compared with the type.
This ivy can take on attractive colours in winter when the weather is dry and cold.
History
This cultivar name appeared as long ago as 1826 in the catalogue of the nursery Conrad Loddiges & Sons, London, United Kingdom. It was discovered in the wild near an old nursery in Ireland by Mr Hodgens and Dr Mackay. It was initially considered to be a cultivar of Hedera helix, but an analysis of the chromosomes by Hugh McAllister proved that it was tetraploid, and therefore related to Hedera hibernica.
At the same time, another cultivar called ‘Rottingdean’ was introduced by G. Jackman & Sons, nurserymen in Woking, Surrey, UK in 1964. It had been discovered near Brighton. It later transpired that this cultivar actually matched the description of ‘Digitata’.
Finally, according to Hugh McAllister, the cultivar now sold in nurseries as ‘Digitata’ is in fact ‘Digitata Nova’ (Source: Hedera, The complete Guide). Without wishing to settle the debate definitively, we will simply point out that the latter is a 'Digitata Nova'. Hedera helix, while ‘Digitata’ is a Hedera hibernica.
Technical leaflet - Hedera hibernica 'Digitata'
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : hibernica
- Cultivar : ‘Digitata’
- Pierot classification: ivy type
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Europe, on the Atlantic coast, from Portugal to Scotland
- Origin of cultivar: believed to have been found near an old nursery in Ireland by Mr Hodgens and Dr Mackay.
Description of Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’
- Growth habit: spreading
- Number of lobes: usually 5 lobes
- Leaf length: 5 to 6 cm
- Sheet width: 6 to 7 cm
- Colour of leaf: dark green
- Colour variations: pretty winter colours in dry, cold weather
- Leaf shape: some leaves are digested
- Colour of veins: green
- Internodes: 3 to 5 cm
- Colour of stem and petiole: pinkish brown
- Hair: stellate, small
Planting, cultivation and care instructions for Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’
- Exposure: shade, part shade, sun
- Hardiness: -20°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral, calcareous or acidic
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: climbing
- Development: moderate
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: very rare (spider mites, mealy bugs)
- Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)
A page from my little ivy encyclopaedia
A question of circumstances
What is tetraploid ivy?
Plants usually have two sets of similar chromosomes in their cells. They are known as diploid. This is the case of Hedera helix. But some species have more sets of chromosomes. For example, Hedera hibernica has 4 sets of similar chromosomes. In this case, it is said to be tetraploid.
Ivy in literature
“The garden, overgrown with ivy, exuded a melancholy that no one could erase.»
Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Stock of 1-litre cups and pots | 11 to 20 pots |
| Stock 2 or 4 litre containers | 6 to 10 containers |
| Large stock items | 0 big topic |
| General appearance | Spread |
| Type of foliage and colour | Atypical, Red in winter, Green |
| Possible uses | Climber |
| Exhibition | Part shade, Shade, Sun |
| Hardiness | Very good hardiness |
| Easy to grow | Easy |
| Speed | Average |
| Vigorous development | Medium |
| Classification according to the Pierot system | Ivy type |
| Reward obtained | No known reward |
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