Persian 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', '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, 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
