Posted 8:29 pm Thursday, January 03, 2013
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Algerian Ivy grows in deep shade, has heart-shaped leaves
By Dee Bishop
Smith County Master Gardener
Smith County Master Gardener
Hedera canariensis variegata, commonly known as Algerian Ivy, grows happily in shade, even deep shade. This ivy has white heart-shaped leaves with green in the middle.
I love this ivy in winter. It literally shines from my woodland garden. Algerian Ivy has not always been perennial here, but I have had mine for 15 years and it has taken anything dished out in that time and comes through beautifully.
Algerian Ivy grows very slowly in my hot dry yard. It has proven very drought resistant. I made the mistake of throwing some English ivy that I had pulled up, over into the woods and now it is growing rampantly all over. Huge mistake!
Algerian ivy will cling to a concrete wall or a brick house, but grows well on the ground as a ground cover. Algerian ivy has never gotten out of hand; however it may in moist rich soil.
This ivy needs well drained soil. I mulch mine with pine straw to keep it as moist as I can and to protect the roots from extreme cold and heat.
One thing I love to do is put a strand or two in a pretty bud vase or bottle on my breakfast table. It stays pretty for ages. I have used pieces for napkin holders or to decorate a luncheon table. The deep green and white leaves look very dramatic. Give them a spray of leaf shine and they will sparkle.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants that are found in the Tyler Rose Garden.
I love this ivy in winter. It literally shines from my woodland garden. Algerian Ivy has not always been perennial here, but I have had mine for 15 years and it has taken anything dished out in that time and comes through beautifully.
Algerian Ivy grows very slowly in my hot dry yard. It has proven very drought resistant. I made the mistake of throwing some English ivy that I had pulled up, over into the woods and now it is growing rampantly all over. Huge mistake!
Algerian ivy will cling to a concrete wall or a brick house, but grows well on the ground as a ground cover. Algerian ivy has never gotten out of hand; however it may in moist rich soil.
This ivy needs well drained soil. I mulch mine with pine straw to keep it as moist as I can and to protect the roots from extreme cold and heat.
One thing I love to do is put a strand or two in a pretty bud vase or bottle on my breakfast table. It stays pretty for ages. I have used pieces for napkin holders or to decorate a luncheon table. The deep green and white leaves look very dramatic. Give them a spray of leaf shine and they will sparkle.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about plants that are found in the Tyler Rose Garden.
