Description
English ivy - Hedera helix
In a nutshell
Common ivy, Hedera helix, or English ivy, is an excellent ground cover or an ideal climber, depending on its use and the environment in which it grows.
The leaves form 3 to 7 lobes, with a central lobe that is clearly more developed. The overall shape is triangular to oval. The base is variable, sometimes sagittate, sometimes cordate, rounded or even truncated.
The veins are a paler green, sometimes silvery or whitish.
The leaves of the adult stage are elliptical or oval, without lobes.
History
This species has existed since the end of the secondary era, around 100 million years ago. At that time, it grew in warm, humid regions alongside tropical plants.
Technical data
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : helix
- Pierot classification: ivy type
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Europe, from Spain to Norway, but little on the Atlantic coast.
Description
- Growth habit: creeping or climbing
- Number of lobes: usually 3 to 7
- Leaf length: 4 to 11 cm
- Sheet width: 4 to 12 cm
- Leaf colour: pale to dark green
- Colour of veins: pale green, sometimes silvery
- Colour of stem and petiole: green
- Hairs: stellate, diameter 0.2 to 1.3 mm, whitish, with 4 to 8 rays
- Flowering colour: cream
- Flowering period: September to December
- Fructification: black berries
- Fruiting period: October to April
Planting, cultivation and maintenance advice
- Exposure: shade, part shade
- Hardiness: -19°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral or chalky
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: ground cover, climber, hedge
- Development: vigorous
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: very rare (spider mites, mealy bugs)
- Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)
Ivy in literature
“The walls, adorned with ivy, whisper memories of a bygone era.»








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