English ivy varieties

English ivy varieties

1. 01

   Plant names and labels

   This page covers Hedera helix, common or English ivy. Keep it separate from other ivy species such as H. colchica and H. algeriensis.

   Within H. helix, useful choices include trailing or climbing forms, compact or miniature pot forms, and adult-only bushy non-climbers such as ‘Arborescens’. Juvenile and adult growth also differ in leaf shape and habit.

2. 02

   How the varieties differ

   Examples include ‘Buttercup’ with broad yellow leaves, ‘Ceridwen’ with compact three-lobed green-and-yellow leaves, ‘Midas Touch’ with golden splashes on a small climber, and ‘Duckfoot’ with small duck-foot-shaped leaves. Attach each trait to its cultivar label.

3. 03

   Care differences

   For indoor pots, choose small-leaved or slow-growing cultivars and use indirect or low light. Give brighter indirect light when a variegated form loses its pattern. Climbing forms need support or a trailing position, while compact forms do not need the same training.

4. 04

   Limits of plant labels

   These cultivars are examples from a much larger range. Outdoor growth rate, hardiness and mature form may not match a small indoor pot, so keep the nursery label and indoor setting visible.