Other Names:  English Ivy

Description:

A tough broadleaf evergreen vine with very colorful variegated leaves for that special touch of flair; serves so many purposes well, as a groundcover, climber up walls, structures and trees, even as a sprawling shrub, does well in shade

Ornamental Features

Variegated English Ivy's attractive glossy lobed leaves remain green in colour with showy creamy white variegation throughout the year on a plant with a spreading habit of growth.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated English Ivy is an herbaceous annual with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Variegated English Ivy is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Variegated English Ivy will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. As a climbing vine, it should either 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. This annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant 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 is a selected variety of a species 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.

Variegated English Ivy is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. 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 growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.