Called the symbol of eternal life, in winter it brings the hope of a quick arrival of spring. Ivy - an evergreen plant that is ideal for the home. It is also grown in gardens. It is not uncommon for ivy to add a sense of mystery to any space it is placed in. It is not a very demanding plant, but it will certainly please the eye with its beautiful green colour.

Evergreen ivy - a striking climber

Ivy (Hedera) is a cold-green, long-lived native climber belonging to the Araliaceae family. Under natural conditions, it is found in Asia Minor and Europe. It is classified as a poisonous and invasive plant. Flowering specimens found in the wild are protected. Ivy can be used in the garden, but also in the home as an interesting indoor decoration. It can also be used as a patio plant.

Hedera grows very quickly, rooting along stems that lie on the ground. The plant's creeping, self-growing stems can grow up to 20 m. Ivy has distinctive hairs that give the new growth a greyish colour. In the case of older specimens, we can also find overhanging branches. The ornamental part of the ivy is the leaves. When young, they are hairy, later leathery and glossy, with a dark green blade and a distinct network of pale yellow nerves.

Hedera cultivation

Ivy has few requirements and is quite a tolerant plant when it comes to cultivation.

✔️ position

It is usually recommended to plant ivy primarily on the side of tree trunks and walls. This is where the plant succeeds best, as it is actually an ideal perennial climber for shade. In the case of ivy, it is advisable to use a suitable plant support, e.g. bent bamboo, so that it can attach itself to the plant.

✔️ temperature and humidity

Ivy is quite sensitive to temperature changes. In severe winters it can freeze. Its shoots are particularly vulnerable. In areas with a harsh climate, ivy should therefore be covered. At home, the best temperature for it will be around 15°C.

✔️ substrate

Ivy grows best in humus, calcareous and, above all, fresh soil.

✔️ watering and fertilizing

Ivy must be provided with constant humidity. It should not be excessively wet, so that root rot does not occur. If we are not able to prepare the described conditions, it is necessary to regularly spray the whole plant. Once a year, it is advisable to fertilise the ivy with Complete universal liquid fertiliser. This is best done in March or April. Damaged and dry shoots should also be removed regularly to encourage new growth.

Ivy - interesting varieties

The most common ivy species is Hedera helix, the extremely hardy common ivy. Just after it in terms of popularity is the Irish ivy Hedera hibernica, distinguished by its matted leaves of considerable size. On the other hand, colchid ivy Hedera colchica is one of the much smaller species. There are also hundreds of ivy varieties on the market that are grown as ornamental plants. They differ in habit, shape or leaf colour. One of the most interesting is Hedera helix 'Goldheart', characterised by very decorative leaves, which are dark green at the edges and have an irregular, large golden or yellow spot in the middle. Also noteworthy is Hedera helix 'Arborescens' with its spherical bushy habit, making this plant a great addition to any room.