Hedera helixCommon name : English IvyFamily : Aralicaeae
Hedera helix is a vigorous self clinging crampon or ground cover with 3 - 5 lobate triangular , glossy leaves 4 - 6 cm long .
There a hundreds of cultivar , with almost infinite variations in leaf color and form but most with some form of variegation . H. genus Helix may be counterpoint with turgid allow for species such as H. canariensis or H. colchica .
Aplantwith a role , H. helix stick out a wide range of conditions , including the toughest of all – dry shade .
It prefers damp , well - drainedhumus rich soils , rather more or less alkaline . The more brightly variegated cultivars favour more light and therefore do better in fond or dappledshade or even full sun . Most cultivar arehardyto -10 degrees C.
Grown on walls , fencing and as ground cover version , H. genus Helix is a useful background or setting for other plant and can lift dark or fishy niche with its glossy leave and vary forms .
Maintenance
H. helix has a tendency to weediness . It should therefore beprunedto stay within the confines of the growing country . This will prevent adult , arborescent ontogenesis which produces the berry which are spread by birds .
When used as a flat coat cover , concern should be taken to foreclose spread beyond the desired area as it steady down easily . This was a problem I had withthis garden when I first moved into it .
Water freely in emergence and and use a general purpose plant food monthly . Ideally , keep moist inwinter .
Pests etc
Two spotted mite , scale insects and folio spot may be a problem .
Propagation
Propagate with semi ripe cuttingsor by layer .
Brickell C ( ed ) , 1998 , the Royal Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants Dorling Kindersley , London .
Martin Cole has been an devouring plant lover and gardener for more than 20 years and loves to peach and write about horticulture . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year rivalry . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .
He previously lived in London and Sydney , Australia , where he take a diploma course in Horticultural studies and is now ground in North Berwick in Scotland . He base GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The internet site is take at everybody who know plant or has been bitten by the horticulture bug and require to screw more .
garden footstep by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s largest mail edict industrial plant retailer , as a site that publishes good horticulture content .
