English Ivy Plant - Growing Guide

English Ivy in Your Garden

More commonly known as the English ivy plant, Helix is an evergreen vine native to Europe and western Asia. It is a thick ground cover and is well known for its ability to climb vertical surfaces. It will grow sixty-some feet vertically if given a chance. This ivy forms a dense mat of growth perfectly suited to preventing soil erosion if built along the ground.

It has two sorts of leaves, depending on how it is grown. On creeping and climbing stems, the leaves have well-known five lobes. Rarely seen, the leaves on fertile flowering stems are unlobed and found high in the crowns of trees. It blooms in late summer; the flowers are relatively small and green. Berries are purple-black to orange-yellow and ripen in late winter, making them critical bird food.

The Helix is often planted in the home garden on hillsides and in poor areas where soil erosion is a concern. In a pleasant climate, the plants will overgrow, forming beautiful greenery as they root into the ground. They prefer areas with full sun to partial shade for best growth. Ivy will still grow in full shade but will not be as rapid. Well, the drained soil is best for this ivy, but it tolerates wet feet. If climbing is desired, plant the vine near a wall, building, or trellis. Some training at the beginning may be in order, but English Ivy will quickly take hold of the surface.

Caring for the English Ivy

Care of English Ivy is minimal. Water the plant lightly till it is established. If it rains at least an inch a week, do not water at all. After that, only water during extreme heat or drought. Helix here will not require much, if any, fertilizer. If desired, apply two tables spoons of slow-acting nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. English ivy grows densely as a ground cover and requires little care, but you may occasionally need to pull a stray weed.

In no time, your home and garden will be graced with the lush Old World style of English Ivy. Your hillsides will be green, the ivy on any wall or building is stately, and the overall effect is of a timeless English estate. With minimal work on your part and maximum impact in the gardens, it is a perfect garden plant for the home gardener.

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English Ivy - TN Nursery

English Ivy

English Ivy is a low-growing ground cover plant; it has glossy, heart-shaped leaves and produces small, inconspicuous brownish-purple flowers nestled among its dense, carpet-like foliage. It is a fantastic and versatile plant with several landscaping benefits. This evergreen vine is native to Europe and Western Asia and is widely embraced for its aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and practical applications. English Ivy is a woody evergreen perennial vine and foliage plant proliferating on vertical surfaces like trees, walls, fences, and trellises. The ancient Greeks believed the plant was sacred to the god Dionysus, and pagan druids revered it as a symbol of the divine feminine. In classical Latin, “hedera” refers to the ability to grasp, which is in keeping with the vine’s nature. English Ivy (Hedera helix) Loves Shade Native to Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia, the Hedera helix is nearly ubiquitous in Britain and is naturalized and prolific in many regions of the United States. In the wild, the plant grows under, on trees, and up the sides of rocky cliffs, favoring moist, shady areas out of the sun. English Ivy Is A Natural Air Purifier  Mature Hedera helix vines typically grow up to 80 feet tall and span a three- to five-foot width. Their climbing stems bear young, five-lobed leaves, while their fertile stems bear adult, spade-shaped leaves. These deep-green leaves can vary in size between two and four inches long. The top of the plant will often develop clusters of small, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom from late summer until late autumn. These nectar-rich blossoms will eventually yield a crop of small purple-black to orange-yellow berries that persist into winter. English Ivy Kills Weeds Its bright green foliage can add all-season color to any landscape and beautify forlorn spaces. Its vines can be trained to climb many stable vertical surfaces or grown as a ground cover to suppress weeds. Since Hedera helix proliferates, it can make a good screen on a fence or trellis. When carefully grown on exterior building walls, it can protect their surfaces from exposure to bad weather and help regulate the temperature. Within the United States, Hedera helix can provide food and habitat for wildlife. Butterflies and moths eat their leaves, bees feed on their flowers’ nectar, and birds eat their berries in winter. The foliage often shelters insects and small animals and sometimes attracts nearby deer. English Ivy Is An Evergreen Hedera helix is a beautiful evergreen vine with a rich history. When you plant it in your garden, you can enjoy its charming English ivy character all year. What is the best fertilizer for English ivy? English ivy is best fertilized by a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, which should be used every four to six weeks when growth is most active during early spring and summer. The standard vegetation growth formula that can be used is the 20-20-20 formula as a means of encouraging the growth of foliage.  Is the English ivy easy to maintain English ivy is an easy-growing plant that can be grown under different environmental conditions. It has to grow groomed and Pruning can help in its regulation besides making it look neat. It's also very hardy and will survive short periods of neglect.  Can I grow an English ivy plant indoors?  If placed in bright, indirect light, English ivy is an ideal indoor plant. Give the plant good drainage when planting, and occasionally spray the leaves with a mist to promote humidity.  Companion plants for the English ivy Suitable companions of English ivy are the ferns, hostas, and begonias, blending well in shaded gardens. These plants have similar growth requirements, and their growth characteristic, such as trailing nature, complement ivy.  Where to grow English ivy  English ivy thrives in partial to fully shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil. It's very adaptable and can grow as a low-growing trailing plant, a climbing vine, or in pots. However, it is also important not to plant it in a position where it may spread and become invasive.

15 Ground Cover Favorites - TN Nursery

15 Ground Cover Favorites

The Nursery proudly offers the chance to purchase a ground cover grab bag containing ten healthy plants. This option allows each customer to have a horticulture specialist determine which ground cover plants will perform best in their U.S.D.A. growing zone. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE A COLLECTION OF PLANTS, NOT SPECIFIC PLANT TYPES. WE CHOOSE TYPES THAT WORK BEST FOR YOUR ZONE ACCORDING TO YOUR ZIP CODE Our horticulturists assess your zone and then hand-select your order. You will receive a surprise that includes a variety of 10 beautiful plants. T.N. Nursery specializes in growing species that are easy to care for and suitable for gardeners of every skill level. Ground Cover Vining Plant Favorites in One Collection This collection features several fantastic ground cover vining plants that you can use to cover your garden. These low plants grow along the world and easily cover broad space patches. They're a popular alternative for grass, and they also look pretty attractive when worked into landscaping features. We offer diverse options ranging from understated covers that fade into the background to eye-catching covers with unusual colors and features. The one thing all of these plants have in common is that they do a great job of growing along the earth's floor and providing even coverage across your landscape. Exciting Ways & Places To Plant The Ground Cover Favorites These versatile plants work in many situations. Some landscapers like to use them instead of grass to create a unique and beautiful-looking lawn. Others use them as coverage in between taller plants in flower beds. You can also design landscapes with dense clusters of these plants as borders for trees, sidewalks, patios, and more. Try one of our options when you might enjoy a low plant with high coverage. Enjoy A Variety Of Groundcovers With This Collection  Many different types of plants are available for property owners who need coverage for their earth floors. The best ones have a few attributes that help them stand out. Their dense coverage ensures your yard gets a lush coat of leaves and greenery instead of bare dirt peeking through. Good plants for coverage also tend to have a relatively short and regular appearance. They provide a low, even coating that coats the floor without distracting from the rest of your land. TN Nursery Has Some Fantastic Ground Cover Favorites When you want to find great plants to blanket your earth floor, check out our ground cover Favorites. We've looked far and wide to find the most popular options. These iconic plants are well-liked by both professional landscapers and amateur gardeners. When you choose from this bunch of plants, you can be confident you'll get an excellent option that blankets your floor with a lot of beautiful, natural greenery.

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