A question about ivy.

willowjay · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 07:16 AM

I have seen our native ivy covering fences and eventually changing its leaf shape and flowering and fruiting, much to the delight of blackbirds.

My question is this. We have an old ash tree stump in the garden, and several variegated ivy plants are now slowly working their way up it. Does anyone know if these varieties will flower and fruit?

Cotham Marble · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willowjay

My question is this. We have an old ash tree stump in the garden, and several variegated ivy plants are now slowly working their way up it. Does anyone know if these varieties will flower and fruit?

The key word is 'eventually' - ivy can take up to ten years before achieving fruiting maturity, though you may find some fruits after about seven years. In the mean time your ivy will provide great protection for the invertebrates colonising the stump in your garden

CM

Hedera · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 12:49 PM

I have had ivy Goldheart for over 20 years and never seen a flower on it yet. It has covered shed walls and next door's house wall, looks good and healthy and occasionally has all-yellow leaves in a spray.

Dorts · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 01:21 PM

All Ivy plants will eventually flower, though as Hedera has already said, some varieties seem reluctant to do so. I think a lot has to do with how well a plant is doing, once it starts to 'struggle' a bit, it will usually start to flower.

The form of growth changes once an Ivy starts to flower and a interesting fact is, that if you 'root' a stem from a flowering piece of Ivy, that piece becomes incapable of again forming the typical long straight climbing shoots.
Dorts.

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 02:31 PM

The variegated ivies are commonly Hedera canariensis rather than the native Hedera helix. I've never seen one of them flower (and had one big shrub for well over a decade) so perhaps they have been bred not to flower?

Dorts · #6 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

The variegated ivies are commonly Hedera canariensis rather than the native Hedera helix. I've never seen one of them flower (and had one big shrub for well over a decade) so perhaps they have been bred not to flower?

Ten years is a very short time in the potential life span of an Ivy plant. There are many trees well over a 100 years old with Ivy plants undoubtedly contemporary with such trees. I remember seeing many Ivy plants when I was working in forestry who's stems were well over a foot thick. All of such plants were flowering, but it may have been many decades before this started.
So you may have some time to wait before yours starts to flower.

I have had Hedera canariensis vars. flowering after just 15 years, and very attractive these plants are.
Dorts.

willowjay · #7 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 08:05 PM

Many thanks for all your replies. I am just going to have to be patient! Meanwhile my blackbirds will have to make do with cotoneaster, pyracantha - and grapes

Deb London · #8 (**permalink**) 13-12-2010, 06:27 AM

Related to this thread, I have read that the flowers do not form until the shoots reach the top of whatever structure they climb. I thought this was because a change in direction to more horizontal growth was required. But whether an ivy flowers or not could well be down to light levels.

For anyone wondering if Persian Ivy 'Sulphur Heart' flowers (as I once did) it does, very well. Just hoping the Holly Blues can make use of the flowers.

Brocakat · #9 (**permalink**) 13-12-2010, 05:15 PM

I don't think the Canary Ivy (Hedera caneriensis 'Variegata' /'Gloire de Marengo' berries are fertile. But this also flowers,too.

Paul mabbott · #10 (**permalink**) 13-12-2010, 06:39 PM

Fair enough. Our climber had 'adult' leaves and a very thick stem - it was, actually, probably a few years over the decade! As were various H. helix shrubs which did flower.

One thing that might be worth folks consideration - our very vigorous H. canariensis had quite a strong root system which disrupted our water main. People shouldn't assume that planting them next to the house is a simple, innocuous matter!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorts

Ten years is a very short time in the potential life span of an Ivy plant. There are many trees well over a 100 years old with Ivy plants undoubtedly contemporary with such trees. I remember seeing many Ivy plants when I was working in forestry who's stems were well over a foot thick. All of such plants were flowering, but it may have been many decades before this started.
So you may have some time to wait before yours starts to flower.

I have had Hedera canariensis vars. flowering after just 15 years, and very attractive these plants are.
Dorts.