Climber
Common ivy
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in September | Flowers in October | Flowers in November | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Prune | Prune in February | |||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in March | Looks good in September | Looks good in October | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Hedera helix clings by fine aerial roots and will clothe a wall, fence or shady bank in evergreen leaves. Young climbing growth has the familiar lobed leaves; once it reaches the top of its support it changes to a bushy adult form with unlobed leaves that flowers in autumn and carries black berries through late winter. For gardens, 'Glacier' has grey-green leaves edged cream, 'Goldheart' a yellow centre, and 'Parsley Crested' frilled edges. Persian ivy, Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart', has much larger leaves.
Where to grow common ivy
Ivy grows almost anywhere, from deep shade under trees to exposed walls, and on any soil. Variegated forms colour best in some light. On sound brick or stone it does little harm and can insulate, but it will exploit crumbling mortar, render or cracks, so check walls first and keep it out of gutters and roof spaces.
Planting
Plant in spring or autumn, 30 cm from the base of a wall, with compost added to the hole. Lean the stems onto the surface or along canes; new growth clings, but older stems from the pot will not reattach.
Care through the year
Spring
Water young plants until they establish; after that ivy is very drought-tolerant.
Summer
Leave it alone while birds are nesting in the dense growth.
Autumn
Watch the flowers, which are busy with late bees, hoverflies, wasps and butterflies.
Winter
Berries ripen and feed blackbirds, thrushes and wood pigeons.
Pruning
Trim once a year in late winter, before the nesting season begins, cutting back from windows, gutters and roof tiles. On trees, ivy is not a parasite, but heavy growth adds weight and wind load to old or weak trees, so keep it in check there.
Propagation
Ivy is one of the easiest plants to multiply. Cuttings from climbing shoots root in water or compost at almost any time of year, and trailing stems root wherever they touch soil.
Common problems
Pests are few, though scale insects and aphids sometimes appear. The sap can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves and long sleeves when cutting large amounts.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in February, March, April, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.