How to Grow Ivy in Cottage Garden

Not a problem likely to be encountered with the ivies. Certainly not with those derived from our native Hedera helix. These are all very tough and are available in a wide diver­sity of leaf shapes and colours. All prosper in cool conditions and are ideal for clothing north or east-facing walls. Contrary to popular belief, if the wall is in sound struc­tural order, then the ivy is most unlikely to cause any problems. The brightest coloured one is ‘Goldheart’, a dark green leaf back­ground splashed liberally with golden-yellow and showing a reddish cast in new shoots and juvenile foliage. An outstanding garden plant, but in need of careful placing in the cottage garden as it is so brightly coloured. Nevertheless it is probably the best of the ivy cultivars for colourfully clad­ding a wall in a relatively short space of time. Arrow-shaped leaves are provided by ‘Sagittaefolia’, crested ones by ‘Cristata’, while ‘Marmorata’ has foliage suffused with creamy-white and grey, producing a fine marbled finish.

The plain green-leaved ivies are equally attractive and I would encourage their use in many situations in the cottage garden rather than some of the more brash and outlandish kinds. The common Irish ivy, H. hibernica, differing very little in general as­pect from our common H. helix, and the Himalayan ivy H. nepalensis which, in its adult non-clinging form, yields red or yel­low decorative fruits. It is interesting to note that all ivies have three stages of growth, starting off as non-clinging scram­bling plants which with age begin to ascend and cling by means of tiny suction roots to any nearby wall or substantial tree. Once established bushy adult foliage is produced which eventually yields relatively incon­spicuous greenish-white flowers in crowded heads. These are followed by fruits of vary­ing colours. If material is propagated from this arboreal growth, then so called tree ivies or arborescent ivies will be produced. These have all the characteristics of the adult ivy, but yield a neat rounded bush.

Ivies are traditionally climbers for north­erly and easterly aspects, but it is not their prerogative alone, for the climbing hydran­gea, Hydrangea petiolaris, also enjoys these conditions. A vigorous fellow capable of attaining enormous dimensions in its natural habitat, it is ideal for covering a wall. Entirely self-supporting, it produces bold white flowers amongst bright green foliage and although rather slow to start flowering is well worth waiting for. The same can be said of the wisteria, for this spectacular climber of the pea family needs several years before becoming properly established. Once flowering well it continues without falter­ing, producing richly scented chains of lilac-purple blossoms from late spring until mid­summer. The usual kind is Wisteria sinensis which is available in a white form too, but there is also W. floribunda and this has yielded lavender and rose coloured forms of merit. To the casual observer both species look the same, but the flowers of W. flori­bunda open from the base of the raceme downwards, while in W. sinensis they open simultaneously.