Hedera canariensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- HED-er-ah kah-nair-ee-EN-sis
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Canary Island ivy is an evergreen climbing or trailing shrub in the ivy family (Araliaceae) native to the Canary Islands and possibly the Atlantic coast of northern Africa.
This vine can grow 30 feet tall and climb surfaces by aerial roots. It will act as a groundcover if there are no vertical surfaces to climb. It prefers shade to part shade in most soils and will grow vigorously in forests, inhibiting regeneration of understory plants, including forest wildflowers and new trees and shrubs. It is closely related to English ivy.
The heart-shaped leaves are lobed to nearly no lobes in the upper leaves. It rarely blooms but has small greenish flowers followed by black, round fruits that birds eat and spread the seeds.
This plant is considered invasive in California and has high invasive properties. See native alternatives to the left.
Quick ID Hints:
- Broad, 3-7 lobed leaves 2-6" long and wide
- Reddish petioles and twigs
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gloire de marengo'
Green leaves with cream margins - 'Marginomaculata'
Green leaves with irregular creamy-white margins. - 'Ravensholst'
Large glossy green leaves - 'Striata'
striped yellow-green to golden variegation - ‘Variegata’
Green and white foliage.
- 'Gloire de marengo'
- 'Gloire de marengo', 'Marginomaculata', 'Ravensholst', 'Striata', ‘Variegata’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gloire de marengo'
Green leaves with cream margins - 'Marginomaculata'
Green leaves with irregular creamy-white margins. - 'Ravensholst'
Large glossy green leaves - 'Striata'
striped yellow-green to golden variegation - ‘Variegata’
Green and white foliage.
- 'Gloire de marengo'
- 'Gloire de marengo', 'Marginomaculata', 'Ravensholst', 'Striata', ‘Variegata’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hedera
- Species:
- canariensis
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canary Islands, Azores, Northern Africa
- Climbing Method:
- Clinging
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Fleshy. Berry-like black drupe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- In umbels or compound umbels. Greenish-white, only occuring on mature branches.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Heart-shaped with 3-7 lobes with red-hairs below, wider leaves than English ivy. Alternate, simple, cordate, evergreen, 3-7 lobes with palmate venation when juvenile, ovate to rhombic on mature/adult branches (i.e. climbing); 2-6" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Covered with red, scale-like pubescence; produce adventitious roots.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Weedy
