Hedera colchica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- HED-er-ah KOHL-chik-ah
- Description
-
Persian Ivy is an evergreen plant in the ivy family (Araliaceae) native to the Middle East. The specific epithet is derived from the name ‘Colchis’ or ‘Colchidis’, a Caucasian area once famous for producing poisons.
Persian ivy is a tough, vigorous, long-lived plant that prefers humus-rich, well-drained alkaline soils but is adaptable to a range of conditions. It prefers its roots in cool shade but the crown in full sun. It can grow nearly 100 feet in ideal conditions, either growing up a vertical surface or sprawling along the ground. Prune in early spring to control size.
A large number of clusters of greenish flowers are produced in late summer to fall and are followed by round berries that are black when mature. It has the largest leaves of any ivy, up to 10 inches long and 6 inches wide.
It will form a dense groundcover as its stems root as it spreads. It can also be used on vertical surfaces for privacy and as part of a pollinator garden, as its flowers are attractive to bees. See native alternatives to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for leaf spots, mites, slugs, and snails.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- A Sampling of Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Dentata'
Rich green leaves - 'Dentata Variegata'
Green leaves with creamy-white margins - 'Sulphur Heart'
Yellow heart-shaped leaves with green margins - 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata', 'Sulphur Heart', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
Download Image
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dentata'
Rich green leaves - 'Dentata Variegata'
Green leaves with creamy-white margins - 'Sulphur Heart'
Yellow heart-shaped leaves with green margins - 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata', 'Sulphur Heart', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hedera
- Species:
- colchica
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Caucasus, northern Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- black fruits are eaten by birds, bees are attracted to flowers.
- Climbing Method:
- Clinging
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Round black berries when ripe in winter. Birds disperse the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are individually small, greenish, produced in large numbers in umbels, and very rich in nectar. Blooms late summer to fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves on the climbing stems are palmate, dentate, five-lobed juvenile leaves. The leaves on the flowering stems are unlobed cordate adult leaves with entire margins. Leaves are up to 6 inches wide and 10 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Brown stems with aerial rootlets for clinging
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
