Common Ivy
Hedera helix
Common Ivy is a climber for groundcover, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Sep, Oct.
| Type | Climber |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 150 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 150 cm of room to spread. It is rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, shade, clay soil, sandy soil, chalk soil, evergreen plants.
Border Builder uses Common Ivy's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
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Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Blackthornfor height behind it
- Bugleto edge in front
- Common Hazelfor height behind it
- Common Honeysucklefor height behind it
- Dwarf guelder rosefor height behind it
- English Bluebellto flower when it does not