2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
While etymologists cannot agree on the original ("true") meaning of the word "ivy", in the minds of an ordinary person, it is firmly linked with a creeping plant, deftly clinging to any support encountered on its way. The ability of ivy to grow well in the shade, tolerate not very severe frosts, and resist pests and diseases is attractive
Rod ivy
The ability of young shoots to quickly climb the support, firmly clinging to it, is provided by antennae and sucker roots growing on these shoots.
The variety of leaf shapes of different plant species is fascinating. But even in one view, the shape of the dense-skinned leaves of flowering branches differs from the shape of the leaves of non-flowering branches. It seems that flowering branches, like the weak half of Humanity, adorn themselves with lighter tones, having whole light green leaves, the shape of which is ovoid or lanceolate. Non-flowering branches are covered with angular-lobed leaves of a dark green color.
Greenish-yellow small flowers blooming in summer, collected in inflorescences-shields, although not very decorative, give the climbing plant a certain charm. Sometimes the inflorescences turn into more decorative fruit-berries, yellow or blackish. But their decorativeness hides poisonousness.
Ivy species
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Ivy (Hedera helix) - perhaps the richest species in garden forms and varieties. It is grown both outdoors and as a pot plant for indoor cultivation. This is a very fast-growing ivy, and therefore, for growing it in pots, compact cultivated forms have been bred, which feel great both in warm and cold rooms.
Common ivy is used as a ground cover plant, as well as for masking walls, shading verandas and garden pavilions. In the open field, cultivars such as, for example, "Hibernica" are grown; for sunny places, "Bogliasco Gold", "Golden Heart" are suitable, on the dark green surface of the leaves of which a golden spot stands out in the center of the leaf.
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Ivy algariensis (Hedera algariensis) - This type of ivy is characterized by red pubescence on the branches and underside of young leaves. Growing up, the leaves acquire a dark green color. The leaves of some varieties have spots of a different color on the green surface. For example, the variegated variety has cream-white spots.
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Canary ivy (Hedera canariensis) is a thermophilic ivy species capable of freezing out during a harsh winter. Therefore, they try to grow it in places protected from the cold. Compared to common ivy, it has larger leaves.
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Colchis ivy (Hedera colchica) - is distinguished by separate large leaves of dark green color. The most famous varieties of this species are "Toothed" ivy and "Toothed variegated" ivy. The leaves of these varieties have a jagged edge. And the "motley" has yellow-cream spots on the surface of the leaf.
Growing
Mostly ivy is planted in partial shade or shade. Only variegated varieties prefer sunny places where their leaves look glossy.
It can be planted in any well-drained soil. If the soil is poor, then organic fertilizers are applied during planting. In the spring-summer period, once a month, watering the plant is combined with mineral feeding. Watering is required only in dry weather.
If you want to keep the ivy in check, you can trim the branches in summer. In the spring, it is best to shorten the long old branches to encourage new shoots to form.
Propagated by cuttings or layering in summer and spring.
Outdoor ivy is resistant to pests and diseases. But snails and slugs love to feast on leaves and young stems of ivy.
Usage
Outdoor use of ivy has two directions: one along the ground, the other upward from it. That is, ivy can play the role of a ground cover plant, or serve as a decorator for unsightly walls, shade garden gazebos and verandas, and decorate pergolas.
Ivy is irreplaceable under the dense crowns of tall trees and shrubs, where not every plant can endure the shadow they create.
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