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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 ground cover 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.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Persian ivy may be subject to damage by leaf spots, mites, slugs, and snails.

See this plant in the following landscape:
A Sampling of Shade Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Dentata'
  • 'Dentata Variegata'
  • 'Sulphur Heart'
  • 'Variegata'
'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata' , 'Sulphur Heart' , 'Variegata'
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#shade garden#lawn alternative#winter interest#erosion control#well-drained soil#climbing vines#variegated#groundcover#pollinator plant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#bee friendly#container plant#trellis
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Dentata'
  • 'Dentata Variegata'
  • 'Sulphur Heart'
  • 'Variegata'
'Dentata', 'Dentata Variegata' , 'Sulphur Heart' , 'Variegata'
Tags:
#houseplant#drought tolerant#shade garden#lawn alternative#winter interest#erosion control#well-drained soil#climbing vines#variegated#groundcover#pollinator plant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#bee friendly#container plant#trellis
  • 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, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • 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