10 Popular Types of Ivy to Grow at Home
Ivy is an iconic climbing or creeping evergreen vine that will be familiar to many gardeners. Once they start climbing, ivies can quickly carpet a wall with gorgeous green leaves. Ivies are fantastic structural plants and are also extremely beneficial for wildlife. In this article, I’ll share ten of my favorite types of ivy and how to grow them in your garden.
10 Popular Types of Ivy
1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
| Native Range: | Throughout Europe and parts of western Asia |
| USDA Zones: | 4 to 13 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Can grow in most well-draining soils |
| Fertilizing: | Once a month during the growing season |
About:
English ivy (Hedera helix) is the quintessential type of ivy and is a prolific climbing vine with glossy green lobed leaves with light green veins. However, English ivy is listed as invasive in some areas of North America.
This type of ivy is a powerhouse for wildlife, providing nectar for insects and food and nesting sites for birds. English ivy can also be grown in pots or as a houseplant.
Growing English ivy on an outside wall can even act as natural insulation. The ivy can preserve warmth in winter while keeping your home cool in summer. When given the correct type of climbing support, English ivy can climb up to 100 feet high.
2. Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica)
| Native Range: | Near and Middle East |
| USDA Zones: | 6 to 9 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to full shade |
| Soil: | Rich, well-draining, slightly alkaline soils |
| Fertilizing: | Monthly during the growing season |
About:
Persian ivy (Hedera colchica) is one of the fastest-growing types of ivy. Native to parts of the Middle East, this type of ivy can climb up to 100 feet high if given a suitable structure. Juvenile leaves are dark green with five lobes, while mature leaves are heart-shaped.
Persian ivy is also extremely long-lived, with some specimens recorded to be approximately 400 years old. This ivy produces umbels of bulbous green flowers from late summer until late fall, followed by black berries. Due to its vigorous growth, prune Persian ivy regularly to keep it in check.
3. Canary Ivy (Hedera canariensis)
| Native Range: | Canary Islands |
| USDA Zones: | 7 to 9 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Well-draining, slightly alkaline soils |
| Fertilizing: | Monthly during the growing season |
About:
Canary ivy (Hedera canariensis) is native to the Canary Islands and can climb up to 100 feet tall. The leathery green leaves have five lobes when juvenile and can grow up to 8 inches wide. The juvenile stems have a slight tinge of red or purple but turn grayish-brown as they mature.
Canary ivy is another prolific species that can grow quickly, so it needs to be managed with regular pruning.
4. Algerian Ivy (Hedera algeriensis)
| Native Range: | Algeria and parts of North Africa |
| USDA Zones: | 7 to 11 |
| Light Preferences: | Partial sun to full shade |
| Soil: | Well-draining, soils that can stay moist |
| Fertilizing: | Monthly during the growing season |
About:
Thanks to its gorgeous leaves, Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis) is one of the most attractive types of ivy. Algerian ivy leaves are glossy and can be dark green or variegated with reddish stems that can grow up to 40 feet long.
Algerian ivy can tolerate colder areas better than other types of ivy native to warm climates. It is also a bit more drought-tolerant than other ivy varieties.
5. Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica)
| Native Range: | Atlantic parts of Europe |
| USDA Zones: | 5 to 10 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Well-draining, slightly alkaline moist soils |
| Fertilizing: | Monthly during the growing season |
About:
Irish ivy (Hedera hibernica) is a fast-growing species of ivy that is deemed invasive in some areas. This type of ivy is native to the Atlantic coastlines of Europe but has become naturalized in the United States.
Irish ivy has glossy green triangular leaves with slightly fainter pale green veins than English ivy. These woody vines can climb up to 100 feet high using aerial roots on the stems. Flowers emerge during the fall and are followed by bluish-black berries.
6. Japanese Ivy (Hedera rhombea)
| Native Range: | Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan |
| USDA Zones: | 8 and 9 |
| Light Preferences: | Partial sun to full shade |
| Soil: | Neutral, well-draining soils |
| Fertilizing: | Once a month during the growing season |
About:
Japanese ivy (Hedera rhombea) is native to parts of eastern Asia, such as Japan, Korea, and coastal regions of China and Taiwan. In its native habitat, Japanese ivy prefers rocky slopes and grows in cloud forests.
This ivy showcases glossy dark green leaves that are slightly diamond-shaped. Some varieties can also have white variegation. From mid-fall to early winter, Japanese ivy produces yellow-green flowers followed by round black berries.
Japanese ivy can climb up to 100 feet high if given a large enough surface. Keep this ivy in check throughout the year by pruning regularly.
7. German Ivy (Delairea odorata)
| Native Range: | South Africa |
| USDA Zones: | 9 to 12 |
| Light Preferences: | Partial sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Loose, well-draining soils |
| Fertilizing: | Monthly during the growing season |
About:
Also known as Cape ivy, German ivy (Delairea odorata) isn’t a true ivy. Instead, it belongs to the aster or daisy family (Asteraceae). German ivy used to be part of the Senecio genus as Senecio mikanioides but has been renamed.
Although German ivy looks similar to English ivy, the two species are actually unrelated. This type of ivy has fleshy green lobed leaves that can be over 3 inches wide. German ivy also produces umbels of bright yellow flowers from winter until spring.
German ivy grows up to 13 feet high and is more manageable than true ivy. However, German ivy still grows reasonably quickly and can be considered invasive.
8. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)
| Native Range: | South Africa |
| USDA Zones: | 10 and 11 |
| Light Preferences: | Partial shade |
| Soil: | Well-draining soils that remain slightly moist |
| Fertilizing: | Once a month during the growing season |
About:
Although known as Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus), this plant is not a true ivy. It isn’t related to the Hedera genus and instead belongs to the mint or sage family (Lamiaceae). Swedish ivy is also known as Swedish begonia.
This ivy produces slightly whorled glossy green leaves that have an aromatic scent. The leaves also have purple undersides covered in fine hairs. Swedish ivy grows up to 3 feet tall and can spread for approximately 2 feet.
Swedish ivy can also be grown as a houseplant. One famous specimen has resided in the Oval Office of the White House since the time of John F. Kennedy.
9. Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
| Native Range: | Japan, Korea, and China |
| USDA Zones: | 4 to 8 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Well-draining soils, preferably loam |
| Fertilizing: | Feed once in the spring |
About:
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is not a true ivy and is unrelated to Hedera ivy. Instead, this ivy belongs to the grape family (Vitaceae). It grows in parts of eastern Asia, such as Japan, Korea, and parts of China.
Boston ivy can grow up to 100 feet tall unless kept in check. These deciduous woody vines have green leaves with 3 to 5 lobes. The leaves can look similar to those of true ivies, like English ivy. Unlike true ivies, which use aerial roots to climb, Boston ivy uses sticky pads to attach to surfaces like walls.
10. Glacier Ivy (Hedera helix ‘Glacier’)
| Native Range: | Throughout Europe and parts of western Asia |
| USDA Zones: | 4 to 9 |
| Light Preferences: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil: | Can grow in most well-draining soils |
| Fertilizing: | Once a month during the growing season |
About:
Glacier ivy (Hedera helix ‘Glacier’) is a popular cultivar of English ivy (Hedera helix). This cultivar has cream or white variegation at the edges of its glossy green leaves. These leaves can have 3 to 5 lobes and retain the pale green veins of English ivy.
Glacier ivy is ideal for growing in hanging baskets, where the attractive foliage can droop over the edge. As a climbing plant, glacier ivy can grow up to 80 feet high if allowed to run rampant. Keep it in check with regular pruning throughout the year.
Wrapping Up
Ivy plants are incredible, iconic evergreen vines that are prolific climbers. As long as they aren’t classed as invasive in your area, it’s easy to grow ivies in your garden. Ivy plants grow best when climbing up walls or trees. These vines thrive in various soil types and light conditions and can also be grown in pots or as houseplants.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.