The ivy plant is native to northern Africa, the Canary Islands and Azores, western Europe, the Himalayas, China, Korea, and Japan. They are categorized based on their leaves. Ivy-types have flat and five-point lobes. Heart-shape ivies have, as expected, heart-shaped leaves or triangular leaves with three-lobes.
Fan ivies have fan-like leaves or broad and multiple lobes of equal length like forward-facing fingers. Bird’s foot ivies have narrow lobes. Curly ivies have ruffled or pleated leaves.
Basic Species
Algerian Ivy
The Algerian Ivy, or Hedera algeriensis, is also called the Canary island or the North African ivy, and it does best in zones 6-10. The Algerian ivy has leathery, lobed, dark-green leaves that have a high-gloss look and hardy stems with red tinges in them.
This type of ivy prefers rich, moist soil and is more tolerant of direct sun than English ivy, which it is closely related to. It grows faster and establishes itself quicker than other types of ivy, and its beautiful foliage and hardy stems make it a popular choice for use as groundcovers, in hanging baskets, and even in containers.
However, because the Algerian ivy is native to areas with a lot of sun and humidity, it seldom does well in cool or cold climates, and it may even die in these conditions.
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English Ivy
Known as the Hedera helix, the English ivy grows fast and vigorously, and it comes in two distinct forms: one is a juvenile form that grows lobed, dark-green leaves and has stems with no flowers on them; and a mature adult form that grows dark-green, unlobed leaves and stems that have small greenish-white flowers in the fall and yellow-orange flowers with dark berries afterward.
Ivies are perfect for winter gardens and grow quite large, up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet in width. They are a perennial plant that loves full to partial shade and is very hardy, low maintenance, and resistant to deer and rabbits. English ivies look great in hanging baskets, groundcovers, and covering unattractive fences or walls.
Goldchild
A type of English ivy, the Goldchild has won several international plant and flower awards. It is a plant with grey-green leaves and margins of bright gold. It is a versatile plant that does very well as a houseplant, although it also looks spectacular as a groundcover or even as a covering for a low wall.
The Goldchild grows up to three feet tall and has leaves that can get two to three inches in width. It is also very ornamental and attractive, which is one of the reasons it is so popular.
Gloire de Marengo
This ivy is an Algerian ivy that grows up to 20 feet tall and three feet wide. It has luscious, dark, heart-shaped leaves that are four to five inches across and have creamy-white trim.
The winner of several international plant and flower awards, the Gloire de Marengo is colorful, dramatic, and is perfect for trellises, slopes, and walls. Although the plant has some tolerance to drought, it prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.
Irish Ivy
Also known as the Hedera hibernica, the Irish ivy is very similar to the English ivy, even sharing similar USDA zones and growing habits. In fact, the Irish ivy is often confused with the English ivy, and in some areas, it is actually considered a noxious or invasive plant.
Some cities even consider it a nuisance plant and take measures to eliminate it whenever it is found on public lands. However, homeowners love the Irish ivy, and it is planted anywhere other types of ivy are successful because it is both low-maintenance and grows quite hardily.
Ivalace
The Ivalace is an English ivy with dark, shiny leaves that only stretch to one inch wide. The edge of each leaf is very curvy, making for a very unique type of ivy. It grows up to three feet tall and four feet wide, and its leaves have a lacy and cupped look.
It grows fast and it makes a beautiful houseplant, although it can also be used as a groundcover in some areas and in small topiaries. The Ivalace needs to be sheltered from cold or dry winds, but otherwise, it does well in full sun or partial shade, as well as wet, but well-drained soils.
Japanese Ivy
Like its name suggests, this ivy is native to Japan and is also called the Hedera rhombea or the Boston Ivy. It does best in warm weather and it grows very well in zones 8 and 9. The Japanese ivy is less strenuous than the Algerian ivy, and it grows up to 12 feet in length when it matures.
The plant’s purplish-colored stems and lobed, heart-shaped leaves often contain blotches and streaks of pure white against the dark shiny green color of the leaves, making for a very striking plant. It is a climber that grows purple fruits and which turns red and purple in the Fall.
You can often see the Japanese ivy plant climbing on walls and even the outside of homes and other buildings, and it also looks great as a groundcover because of its color.
Needlepoint
The Needlepoint is an English ivy that has small leaves that are set close together. Its dark-green leaves have pointed lobes and a very ornamental look, which is why they are commonly found in hanging baskets or on stone walls as a clinging vine. The Needlepoint can get up to three feet in height and also looks great in containers because they are so decorative and eye-catching.
Nepalese Ivy
This plant, also known as Hedera nepalensis, is also called the Himalayan ivy. It does very well in zones 7-10 and prefers moist soil, partial shade, or morning sun. The leaves are diamond-shaped and glossy, and they appear to sag a little on the stems.
The vines can grow up to 10 feet high and 10 feet wide, and its elongated leaves are bright green in color and can have whitish-colored markings throughout them. It is an evergreen plant that produces yellow flowers at one point and is very low maintenance as well.
Persian Ivy
Native to the Near East, the Persian Ivy, or Hedera colchica, grows best in zones 6-9, although it sometimes grows in zone 10 if it is protected from the hot sun.
Sometimes called the “bullock’s heart” ivy because of the way the leaf is shaped, the Persian ivy is more tolerant of direct sun than other types of ivy, and it can even withstand occasional dry soils without dying.
The Persian ivy grows up to six feet in width and from 10 to 40 feet high, and its heart-shaped leaves are the largest leaves of any of the ivy varieties, usually growing from four to 10 inches long.
The Persian ivy is usually solid in color with a somewhat mottled look, and it can have a border of a creamy-white color, making it stand out among the various types of ivies.
Russian Ivy
The Russian ivy, or Hedera pastuchovii, is also called the Iranian ivy and is marketed as a perennial in zones 7 and higher. Several versions of the Russian ivy can survive in zone 5 if you add mulch to keep the soil a little warmer, and if you plant it farther north, you should consider it an annual if you want it to be successful.
Russian ivies prefer sun to partial shade, have medium watering needs, and make great climbers. They have tiny flowers of white or cream, and they can cause skin irritations or even allergic reactions if handled too much by some people.
Swedish Ivy
Also known as Plectranthus australis, this type of ivy grows best in zones 10 and 11, and it prefers partial shade, well-drained soil, and a soil that is rich in humus. Th