Many different plants have the word " ivy " in their mutual names , but most often common ivy come to to plant belong to the botanic genus Hedera . Among the most widely used in outdoor gardens , as indoor houseplant or produce as topiary , is the species call English ivy ( Hedera helix ) . Baltic ivy ( Hedera volute var . baltica ) is a natural variant of English ivy although nurseries and literature may heel this plant as a cultivar .

Origins

English ivy is aboriginal to the vast majority of the European continent . accord to the Tropicos industrial plant database listings of the Missouri Botanical Garden , there are legion natural form and forms of English ivy across Europe as well as into westerly Asia and utmost northerly Africa along the Mediterranean . Baltic Hedera helix is one such natural variety , native to the woodlands around Latvia . This plant was first preface into the United States in 1907 and planted at the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts .

Types

While there is only one Baltic common ivy , plantsman have further engender , genetically pull wires and pick out various configuration of English common ivy . Today there are hundreds of man - made diversity ( cultivars ) that expose variously size , colored and shaped leave-taking for a all-encompassing raiment of decorative garden purposes .

Features

As commented in a 1932 issue from the Arnold Arboretum , there is little physical visual difference among the wild form of English ivy with Baltic Ivy . Perhaps the key distinguishing feature , according to that text file and the American Horticultural Society ’s " A - Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants , " is that Baltic Hedera helix ’s leave are slightly more mettle - shape and have detectable white veins . Besides that , these Hedera helix are both vigorous growing vines that cling onto other structures for backing with five - lob farewell that are glossy and dark green . plant life are more petite and " vine - like " in their juvenile form , and when large and elderly in their adult form , both ivies create bushy , shrub - comparable branches and create flowers in the fall . The blossom are brush up cluster of many tiny five - lobed yellow - green flowers that later become round blackish Chuck Berry .

Growing Considerations

Both English and Baltic common ivy grow well in fertile , moist , well - drain soils that have scads of constitutional topic . They do tolerate a encompassing range of grime type . In red-hot summertime climates , these ivies are best grown in partial shade to forbid leaf scald or browning from the acute sunlight or juiceless , warm dirt . In cooler summer area , full sunlight exposures cultivate well as long as soil does n’t become bone dry . When either of these plants is grown indoors as a houseplant , it take very bright indirect light and should be water and fertilized monthly . In the winter month , the grime should be allow to become slightly juiceless to barely moist , and reduce or omit any fertilization .

Concerns

Generally speaking , English and Baltic common ivy have the potential to become invasive in realm with fertile grime and mild climate , such as in the American Pacific Northwest and East . It is hardy to winter temperatures down to -10 to -20 degree F for brief periods , although the modern , ornately foliaged cultivar are less tolerant to insensate , often surviving temperatures no lower than 10 to 20 degrees according to " A - Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants . " Thus , English Hedera helix is appropriate to grow outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 10 . Baltic ivy is more liberal of wintertime insensate than standard English Hedera helix , as noted by the Arnold Arboretum . Baltic ivy can be grown outdoors successfully in USDA zones 4 through 10 . disregardless , to retain the evergreen plant leaves on both of these ivy , they should not be expose to cold , dry wintertime winds and warm , drying winter Dominicus in cold mood field .

References

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