How to Grow and Care for Ivy

English ivy is the most common climber of European forests. It is a perennial woody vine with evergreen, dark, shiny lobed leaves. It utilizes aerial rootlets to attach to the tree bark with exceptional strength, helping the english ivy creep more than 15 m up a tree. Hedera helix also grows as a forest groundcover and is invasive outside its native range.

Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis) is an evergreen ivy native to coastal mountains in Algeria and the north African coast. Algerian ivy is adaptable to most soil conditions. This species is considered invasive in some regions and has been cultivated in Britain since 1838. It's often planted as a ground cover on highway embankments to control erosion.

Algerian ivy Hedera canariensis is commonly planted as an ornamental, engulfing fences, house walls, sheds, and old tree trunks. But beware, although it has an alluring look, It's a vigorous grower and will need to actively be kept at bay to prevent it from taking over! Although it prefers moist, rich soil, it will tolerate poorer conditions.

It is an evergreen wood vine or shrub or bush perennial climbing 10 m length, with aerial roots. Stems are green. The leaves of Hedera rhombea are medium green, rhombic diamond shaped leaves. Leaves have petiole, is glossy and dark green. The bisexual flowers are yellow-green having 4 to 5 mm diameter. Different kinds of flowers, small, greenish-yellow, gathered in large numbers in erect umbrellas.

Persian ivy (Hedera colchica) is grown as a versatile groundcover that does particularly well in shaded areas. It's also good for erosion control on slopes, and can climb walls and trellis, and even make topiary art. Persian ivy is named after a region to the east of the Black Sea where this plant is native.