Irish ivy
Irish ivy, or Hedera hibernica by its botanical name, is an evergreen climber. So you can enjoy it all year round:
- In spring, Irish ivy forms charming, tender-green leaves.
- in summer, the leaves take on a darker hue
- in autumn, if ivy has reached adulthood, it forms flowers in the form of cream-colored umbels
- in winter, black berries appear when ripe
You're not the only one to appreciate this plant: insects, especially foragers, flock to its flowers at the end of the season. As for the birds, they feast on its fruits at the end of winter. It's a very interesting and useful plant from an ecological point of view, as it provides shelter for a whole range of microfauna and birds. It's an essential plant for anyone who wants a garden that promotes biodiversity.
Description of Irish ivy:
Leaves are 4 to 9 cm wide and 4 to 11 cm long. Their color ranges from pale to dark green. They are considerably larger than those of common ivy(Hedera helix). They usually have 3 or 5 lobes, more or less deep. The general shape is rather webbed, with a heart- or arrow-shaped base. This ivy has tiny, whitish, star-shaped hairs on the leaves and petioles. These details may seem incidental, but they are key to identifying the different ivy species. Adult ivy leaves are elliptical, without lobes. They flower between June and December and ripen between September and April. It's a fast-growing climber that can line a wall in no time. It can also be used to form hedges, or to dress the trunk of a tree.
Origin of ivy Hedera hibernica :
Generally speaking, ivy is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia. Irish ivy, scientifically known as Hedera hibernica, is a plant that grows more specifically over a wide area of the Atlantic coast, from Spain and Portugal to Scotland, France and, of course, Ireland, as the name suggests.
Growing conditions and planting advice for Irish ivy :
Ivy is one of the easiest plants to grow in our gardens. It's undemanding in terms of soil type: limestone soil, neutral soil or acidic soil are all suitable (unlike common ivy, Hedera helix). In terms of exposure, it thrives in both sun and shade. It can be found, for example, as a rock cover on the seashore, in full sun. By all accounts, however, Irish ivy prefers shade or part-shade. It is fairly drought-resistant, but thrives best in cool soil. If the soil is good, i.e. sufficiently rich in humus, there's no need to fertilize.
How can Irish ivy be used in the garden?
Ivy can be easily integrated into any garden, small or large. Unlike other perennials or climbers, it has the advantage of staying green and beautiful all year round. Hiding an unsightly wall, forming hedges to protect privacy, covering the ground under trees, including fruit trees, dressing the wall of a facade - almost anything is possible with this type of plant. If you're planning to plant an ivy hedge, you'll need to install a wire mesh to support it. Allow 2 to 3 ivy plants per linear metre.
However, there are a few uses for ivy that are less recommended: avoid placing it in the middle of rose bushes, as it tends to smother them. The combination of bulbs and ivy is not a happy one either.
But there are so many other possibilities with this type of plant. In any case, plan to prune every year, for example at the end of winter. The aim is to keep the ivy in the area or on the surface you have set aside for it. Be aware that ivy is a plant that tolerates severe pruning very well, so if you've neglected maintenance for a year or two, you can correct this with vigorous pruning. Irish ivy as ground cover offers another significant advantage: weeds are virtually non-existent, as they are smothered by the ivy.
Buy Irish ivy
You'll find over twenty varieties of Irish ivy on this site. It's the widest choice of ivy of any online plant sales site. You'll find full information on plant sizes and prices. We ship the plants you order every Monday. Your order will be delivered within a week of placing it. Our stock is both large and limited. We have a large stock of ivy types. But we have a limited stock of each type of ivy. However, if you require large quantities of certain products, we can grow the variety you want. To help you choose the right product for you, here are the main characteristics of the Irish ivies in our collection:
- Hedera hibernica 'Albany': good ground cover, brown foliage in winter.
- ... 'Angularis Aurea': vigorous climbing ivy, yellow leaves in spring.
- ... 'Arco': thinner vegetation, bronze tones in winter.
- Hedera hibernica 'Betty Allen': ivy with glossy, dark-green foliage.
- Hedera hibernica 'China Plate': large, shiny leaf.
- Hedera hibernica 'Dealbata': white variegation that turns pink in the cold.
- ... 'Deltoidea': ivy perfect for pots or window boxes.
- ... 'Digitata': digitized foliage.
- Hedera hibernica 'Ebony': blackish-green foliage in winter.
- Hedera hibernica 'Glengariff': light yellow veins, good climber.
- Hedera hibernica 'Hamilton': vigorous ivy.
- ... 'Harlequin': yellow variegated leaves.
- Hedera hibernica 'Maculata': vigorous climbing ivy.
- Hedera hibernica 'Palmata': plant with thick, green leaves.
- ... 'Professor Seneta': dark green leaves mottled with cream.
- Hedera hibernica 'Rona': plant with marbled yellow-green foliage. In our opinion, one of the most beautiful.
- Hedera hibernica 'Sark': heart-shaped leaf. A must in the garden.
- ... 'Sulphurea': perfect as ground cover in the shade.
- Hedera hibernica 'Tesselata': light yellow foliage in spring.
- Hedera hibernica 'Vert Clair' : reddish mottling on leaves in cold season.
- ... 'Vitifolia': vine-leaved climbers.
- Hedera hibernica 'Zorgvlied': small bush with beautiful winter colors.
To refine your choice among all these plants, consult the description and discover many additional details as well as photos, prices and container sizes. When you receive your plants, soak your pots before planting and follow our advice.
