The Many Faces of Ivy: Versatile, Beautiful, and Easy to Grow

Whether trailing from a bookshelf, spilling out of a hanging basket, or carpeting the soil around a potted palm, ivy is one of the most adaptable and rewarding houseplants. It actively seeks light, sending tendrils toward any available glow, and clambers willingly over fences, wreaths, or wire topiary frames. Its leaves come in hundreds of shapes—bird’s foot, heart, fan, curly—splashed with colors from solid green to snowy white margins or pale yellow edges. Stems may be green or red, and some varieties blush pink in cold weather.

Myth and Modernity

Ivy’s history is steeped in legend: Bacchus and Nero reportedly wore ivy wreaths, the latter while Rome burned. Today, these graceful vines are so ubiquitous they’re often overlooked. But a closer look at a sprig from a holiday basket reveals intricate leaf patterns honed by centuries of breeding. Horticulturists have harnessed ivy’s natural tendency to mutate, creating a dazzling palette of gold, green, cream, gray, and white variegation—perfect for holiday topiaries or year-round container displays.

Juvenile vs. Adult Growth

In its juvenile stage, English ivy grows with reckless abandon, quickly forming lush trailing plants, dense groundcovers, or the leafy cloak of a topiary frame. Left unpruned, most varieties eventually mature (except in cold-winter climates), changing leaf shape, ceasing to climb or produce aerial roots, and flowering with black berries that feed birds but are toxic to humans.

Care Essentials

Ivy thrives in partial to full shade. Monthly liquid fertilizer and consistent moisture keep it happy. Pests like mites and worms occasionally appear, but ivy is largely trouble-free. A fun quirk: the plant you buy may send out a shoot that differs from the mother—either a reversion to solid green or a stunning new pattern. If you like it, propagate it!

Garden Tip: Rooting Ivy

Take a 6- to 8-inch cutting, strip lower leaves, and plant in loose, moist potting mix on a windowsill. Roots form in a month or two. Water rooting works too, but water roots are fragile—transplant carefully.

Sources & Learning

Find diverse ivies at Western nurseries, florists, and supermarkets, or order from Heritage International (805/484-5262) or Samia Rose Topiary (760/436-0460, www.srtopiary.com). Join the American Ivy Society ($20/year; Box 2123, Naples, FL 34106-2123; www.ivy.org) or read The Ivy Book by Suzanne Warner Pierot (Garden by the Stream, 1995).