Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 5a |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | spreading |
| Mature height | 8 inches |
| Spread | 20 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
English Ivy
Botanical name: Hedera helix
The consummate vine, this is an evergreen climber or dense groundcover with beautiful deep green foliage, benefits from some protection from sun and wind in cold winters; very adaptable and vigorous, will cover walls, trees and fences in short order.
Ornamental Features
English Ivy has dark green foliage. The glossy lobed leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
English Ivy is a multi-stemmed evergreen woody vine with a twining and trailing habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a high maintenance woody vine that will require regular care and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Invasive
English Ivy is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
English Ivy will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. As a climbing vine, it tends to be leggy near the base and should be underplanted with low-growing facer plants. It should be planted near a fence, trellis or other landscape structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it, or allowed to trail off a retaining wall or slope. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This woody vine performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.
English Ivy makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
