Description
Ornamental ivy - Hedera helix ‘Melanie’
In a nutshell
Ornamental ivy, Hedera helix ‘Melanie’, This highly original ivy has foliage with a wavy, curly edge, sometimes almost forming a ball.
The leaf blade is bright green in the centre, paler green towards the edges and purple-purple on the narrow, wavy margins. The colours of the foliage are particularly attractive in winter and spring when it starts to bloom.
This is a vigorous, well-branched ground-cover ivy. It has long internodes and a fairly thick mat. It brings colour and texture to any situation.
History
This cultivar was discovered by Melanie Nicholas at Beth Chatto Nursery, Essex, England, in 1980. It is a mutation of ‘Parsley Crested’ or ‘Curly Locks’.
Technical details - Hedera helix 'Melanie'
Botanical information
- Family: Araliaceae
- Genre : Hedera
- Species : helix
- Cultivar: ‘Melanie’
- Pierot classification: ivy with wavy-crisped leaves
- Foliage stage: juvenile
- Origin of the species: Europe, from Spain to Norway, but little on the Atlantic coast.
- Origin of cultivar: sport of ‘Parsley Crested’ or ‘Curly Locks’ discovered at Beth Chatto Nursery, Essex, England, in 1980.
Description of Hedera helix ‘Melanie’
- Growth habit: spreading
- Number of lobes: 0 or 3 lobes in general
- Leaf length: 4 cm
- Leaf width: 4 to 5 cm
- Leaf colour: bright green, with purple-purple crystals on the margins.
- Colour of veins: light green
- Colour of stem and petiole: pink-green
- Internodes: long
- Branches: well branched
- Carpet thickness: fairly thick
- Hairs: stellate, 3 to 5 branches
Planting, growing and care instructions for Hedera helix ‘Melanie’
- Exposure: shade, part shade, sun
- Hardiness: -12°C
- Soil moisture: cool soil
- Soil PH: neutral or chalky
- Soil type: all
- Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
- Use: ground cover, climber
- Development: moderate
- Pruning: once a year
- Pests: very rare (spider mites, mealy bugs)
- Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)
Ivy in literature
“The ruins were almost entirely covered in ivy, half-hiding their sad past.”






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