Description
Cyprus ivy is an ivy endemic on the island of Cyprus. It can be found along rivers, on rocks or on trees in the Tróodos massif.
It's an ivy close to botanically Iran ivy (Hedera pastuchovii). After being considered a species in its own right, it is now classified as a subspecies of pastuchovii (Hedera pastuchovii subsp. cypria). It differs from Hedera pastuchovii by the fact that the leaves are more veined with white. When crumpled, it gives off a sweet smell, slightly less pronounced than that of Hedera pastuchovii or Hedera colchica.
Le port is spread out or a little bushy. The stems are thin and initially ruby-red in colour, turning grey-brown as they age. The internodes are 1 to 6 cm apart.
The leaves juveniles are triangular in shape, with 3 obtuse lobes. They are 1.5 to 6.5 cm long and 1.5 to 5 cm wide. The apex is slightly mucronate. The base is more or less cordate. Mature leaves are larger, measuring 7.5 to 17 cm long and 6.5 to 14.5 cm wide. They are not lobed or only slightly lobed. They are hastate or lanceolate, truncated at the base or slightly cordate.
Le limb is generally dark green, with attractive silvery-grey veins, particularly on young leaves. The underside is light green. On mature leaves, the leaf blade turns a yellowish green and the veins fade considerably.
The petioles are, like the young stems, ruby-red in colour and measure from 0.5 to 6 cm in length.
The hair are scaly. They are distributed on the stems, petioles and undersides of the leaves. They are made up of more than 8 branches.
Cultivars of Cyprus ivy
We have two cultivars of Cyprus ivy in our collection:
- Hedera pastuchovii subsp. cypria ‘Coon Hollow‘. It is a miniature, bird's-foot ivy, with dark greenish-blue leaves criss-crossed by silvery-white veins, as well as possible whitish patches in cold weather.
- Hedera pastuchovii subsp. cypria ‘Silver Arrow‘. Ivy with cordate leaves on long climbing stems. The leaf blade is dark green, criss-crossed with silvery veins.