Blooming Times: Hooray for Ivy!

Flo Whitaker takes a look at this much-maligned, yet highly versatile plant 

Many people regard ivy as boring or troublesome, yet it offers a great deal and asks for nothing in return. Firstly, let’s banish the myth that it damages trees and structures. Ivy isn’t evil – it doesn’t want to ‘kill’ or ‘strangle’ anything. Plants happily co-exist with ivy,so long as a sensible plan of management is undertaken. 

The immediate area around newly-planted trees and shrubs should always be kept clear of ivy (and pretty much everything else) to prevent them becoming swamped by faster-growing neighbours, but healthy, established plants pay little heed to ivy’s presence. 

Your prime concern should be regarding weight and wind-resistance. A great mass of ivy is extremely heavy. It can also act like a sail and be a contributing factor to a tree leaning or falling, although trees that succumb in this way are often compromised by other factors, such as disease. 

Providing regular maintenance is undertaken, buildings are safe from ivy, (it is surface-rooting and self-clinging), but poorly maintained structures with crumbling bricks or mortar gaps may suffer. Never allow any plant to rampage in guttering, and if you have established trees, check them annually for ivy grow. Remove a little to maintain a proportionate balance – but leave plenty for the benefit of wildlife. 

Wild/common ivy, (Hedera helix) has a two- stage growing process. It starts by scrambling around at ground level. This type of growth produces distinctive pointed leaves and makes an excellent weed-suppressing cover, especially in dry/shady places where other plants cannot thrive. 

However, H. helix seeks the high-rise life and will attach itselfto any suitably convenient support. Its appearance changes dramatically as it climbs; the narrow leaves are replaced by broad ones with rounded tips that are often arranged in clusters. It has now entered an arboreal (tree-dwelling) state and will produce tiny cream/ sulphur-yellow flowers in autumn, followed by black/ charcoal berries during winter. 

Ivy flowers are exquisite; as a child, I was told that woodland fairies use them as sparklers – and I still (half!) believe it. Both flowers and berries are an important food source for wildlife and the dense evergreen foliage provides a habitat for all manner of insects, birds and mammals. 

There are many cultivated varieties of ivy. Most garden centres will stock a few, while plant fairs and specialist nurseries offer more still. 

‘White Wonder’ is a widely- available form, featuring matt green leaves with creamy-white detailing. This type of ‘marbled’ foliage exudes a cool elegance when combined with white-flowered cyclamen and heathers. Underplant with pale-coloured scented narcissi to extend the display into spring. Silvery/grey-coloured containers made from galvanised metal or faux lead adds to the refined appearance. 

H. ‘Ducksfoot’, bears softly rounded small leaves, reminiscent of a webbed footprint, while ‘Ballet’ offers variegated foliage with pink- tinged stems and leaf edges. Team it with pink or purple pansies and plum-coloured heuchera foliage to create a display of sumptuous jewel box colours. ‘Sagittifolia‘ has slimline, arrow-pointed leaves in deepest green. This dense colour makes Sagittifolia brilliant for topiary work. 

If you’re keen to try topiary but worry about making an expensive mistake, start with ivy – it will quickly outgrow a bad haircut. Ivy lends itself magnificently to Christmas decorations and flower arrangements, where it will invariably root in the vase water, giving you new plants for free. 

When using ivy and other greenery out of water, (for instance, twined into a wreath), prepare your materials by submerging them entirely in cold water overnight, then shake and pat dry with an old towel. This method will plump up the plant tissues with maximum moisture, ensuring your decorations remain good-looking throughout the festive period.