Colchica Ivy Hedera colchica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- HED-er-ah KOHL-chik-ah
- Description
-
Persian Ivy has attractive, large, thick, leathery leaves that will form a dense groundcover and is a good alternative for shady areas where grass will not grow. It can be mowed with a rotary mower set on high. It can also be trained to a trellis, arbor, wall or topiary form. and is a good choice to control erosion on slopes or hills. It is not reliably frost hardy and should be mulched heavily in colder regions.
Persian ivy may be subject to damage by leaf spots, mites, slugs, and snails.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Shade Garden Sitting Wall
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata Variegata'
- 'Sulphur Heart'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata' , 'Sulphur Heart' , 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata Variegata'
- 'Sulphur Heart'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Dentata'
- 'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata' , 'Sulphur Heart' , 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
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. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
-
-
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
-
-
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
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
-
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves on the climbing stems are palmately five-lobed juvenile leaves. The leaves on the flowering stems are unlobed cordate adult leaves. Leaves are up to 6 inches wide and 10 inches long.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Brown stems with aerial rootlets for clinging
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
