Hedera

Hedera – The Classic Evergreen Climber for Year-Round Coverage and Versatile Beauty

Hedera, commonly known as ivy, is a timeless, evergreen climber valued for its dense, glossy foliage and incredible adaptability. With its self-clinging habit and trailing, cascading stems, ivy can effortlessly cloak walls, fences, trees, or unsightly structures, providing lush greenery all year round. Available in a range of leaf shapes, sizes, and variegated colours, Hedera brings both texture and architectural interest to formal and informal gardens alike. Whether grown vertically or as ground cover, ivy is a reliable, low-maintenance choice that thrives in challenging conditions.

Why Grow Hedera?

Evergreen Foliage All Year – Maintains vibrant green (or variegated) leaves even through winter, offering lasting colour and structure.

Self-Clinging Habit – Climbs using aerial roots, eliminating the need for wires or trellises on most surfaces.

Versatile Uses – Perfect for covering walls, fences, pergolas, or tree trunks, and equally effective as ground cover to suppress weeds.

Thrives in Shade or Sun – One of the few climbers that performs beautifully even in deep shade, making it ideal for north-facing walls or woodland gardens.

Low-Maintenance & Long-Lived – Hardy, drought-tolerant once established, and easy to prune to control growth.

Planting & Care Guide

Position: Grows in full sun, partial shade, or deep shade. Best leaf colour develops in bright light, but will tolerate low-light areas where few other plants thrive.

Soil: Adaptable to most soils; prefers moist, well-drained conditions but copes with dry or poor soils once established.

Watering: Water regularly during the first year; once established, ivy is largely self-sufficient and drought-tolerant.

Maintenance:

Pruning:
→ Trim in spring or summer to control growth and maintain shape.
→ Cut back wayward stems or prevent ivy from growing into gutters, roofs, or windows.

Feeding: Not usually necessary, but a balanced fertiliser in spring can promote lush growth in poor soils.

Perfect Garden Uses & Combinations

Hedera is perfect for creating green walls, wildlife-friendly habitats, or living screens in urban or country gardens. It makes a beautiful backdrop for colourful perennials like hydrangeas, hellebores, or spring bulbs, and pairs well with ferns, hostas, and brunnera for a lush, shade-loving planting scheme.

Variegated forms such as Hedera helix ‘Goldheart’ or ‘Glacier’ add brightness and contrast in darker areas, while classic green ivies create a rich, uniform cover.