Hedera colchica is undoubtedly the most luxurious species of vines in its genus. This ornamental plant is a popular climber with vigorous foliage, appreciated by gardeners worldwide for its leathery, dark green ovate leaves. It goes by two popular common names Persian Ivy and Colchis ivy (the epithet Colchis refers to the name of a Southern Caucasus region on the eastern coast of the Black Sea where this plant grows natively).
Persian Ivy is an evergreen climbing plant that can make for the most eye-appealing companion when you plant it in a hanging basket. Plus, as an outdoor specimen, the Persian ivy will attach to any available suitable surfaces it can find including trees, walls, and cliffs.
Member of the Araliaceae family, the Persian ivy will keep you company for a long time and you will even be able to forget about it occasionally. Neglecting plants happens to the most experienced gardeners and the best thing about this vine is the fact that it is super low-demanding, often independent, and capable to care for itself on its own. But you will find out more about this attractive ornamental’s needs by reading our guide!
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Quick Facts
| Botanical Name | Hedera colchica |
| Common Name | Persian Ivy, Colchis Ivy |
| Plant Type | Climber, Vine, Evergreen |
| Mature Size | Up to 10 meters high and 10 meters wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well-drained, loam, sand, chalk, clay |
| Soil pH | Acid, alkaline, neutral |
| Bloom Time | Autumn |
| Flower Color | Green, Insignificant |
| Hardiness Zones | 5-10 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Iran, Turkey and Central Asia |
About Persian Ivy
- The Persian ivy is native to the Near and Middle East, with the largest density being in Turkey. Some types can occur in the Black Sea region, the Caspian Sea, and near the Caucasus Mountains.
- The Persian ivy comes along with different varieties to choose from. The H. colchica species and the ‘Dentata’, ‘Dentata Variegata’, ‘Sulphur Heart’, and ‘Variegata’ cultivars have gained the well-known Award of Garden Merit.
- Its flowers are very rich in nectar. Because of this, the Persian ivy is a popular attraction to various species of pollinators including native bees. Likewise, its black berries are a common food source for birds.
- The Persian ivy is an excellent ground cover. However, you can use it in many other ornamental landscapes, such as near slopes and banks, vertical spaces, on rock walls, trellis, naturalized areas, mass plantings, or containers. Many gardeners use this plant to cover a variety of vertical structures such as trellises or to hide unattractive fences or walls.
- Persian Ivy is an extremely vine as it can form a dense ground cover which that can prevent weeds from spreading, but it might also crowd out other plants.
- A great advantage of this vine is the fact that it can thrive in shady locations, where other ornamentals won’t grow.
- Persian Ivy can be used to prevent soil erosion on slopes or hills.
- To enjoy its ornamental value, you should plant the Persian ivy with other stunning species. The most suitable companions are Arum italicum, Italian arum ‘Marmoratum’, Lady fern, Lady fern ‘Lady in Red’, Vidal’s lady fern, Eared lady fern, Bracken, Tatting fern, and North American hay-scented fern.
- Persian ivy can be pretty toxic to humans and animals such as cats, dogs, and horses. Ingestion is known to cause digestive discomfort and contact can irritate the skin, so it’s recommended to wear gloves and other protective equipment when pruning or handling this plant. Therefore, it might be wise to grow this buddy within a safe distance from furry companions and small children. Interestingly enough, Persian ivy is not a threat when it comes to birds or livestock.
Persian Ivy Features: An Overview
- The Persian ivy belongs to the Hedera genus that contains between 12 and 15 species of evergreen ground-creeping or climbing woody plants.
- As a vertical vine, the Persian ivy will produce stems that will climb and attach to most surfaces through its aerial rootlets.
- In general, this plant can reach from 10 to 15 inches (25-38 cm) in height after 5 years of growth. With time, the Persian ivy can eventually grow as long as 98 feet (30 m).
- Its foliage consists of two types of leaves that show up alternately arranged. While the leaves that appear on creeping and climbing stems are juvenile, five-lobed, and palmate, the adult leaves that grow on fertile flowering stems are unlobed and cordate.
- The Persian ivy features the largest leaves among all ivy species, measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) in length and about 6 inches (15 cm) in width.
- Depending on the climate, the Persian ivy will bloom from late summer until late autumn. During this period, the plant produces umbel inflorescences of numerous small, individual, greenish flowers. The blossoms are rich in nectar.
- This vine bears fruits around the winter months. The fruits are globular berries that turn black when ripe. Each berry has about one to five seeds.
Growing Persian Ivy
The Persian ivy is that type of easy-going companion that can do just fine if you meet a few essential demands, but this plant will thrive with minimal effort. Once you have this spectacular vine in your garden or home, you will see that sometimes you can forget about its presence. And your Persian ivy won’t mind. In fact, this attractive ornamental will always forgive your absence and produce attractive foliage.
In terms of lighting, the Persian ivy does not come along with very particular requirements. While this vine shows the best performance in a shady or partially shaded location, it will also grow nicely in partial to full sunlight. In fewer words, the Persian ivy is more than adaptable to a wide range of atmospheres whether you grow it in an indoor or an outdoor setting.
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Temperature-wise, the Persian ivy will have the time of its life in the USDA zones 5 to 10. In these regions, the plant will also have an easy time overwintering without coming to any future damage in spring. If you have fallen in love with the Persian ivy but live outside its hardiness zones, do not worry! You can still grow this plant in a pot and bring it inside during the cold seasons to allow it experiences the warmth of your home.
In case you plan on growing your Persian ivy outdoors, you might encounter some issues with pest infestations and fungal diseases. These problems include aphids, leaf spots, scales, snails, slugs, vine weevils, and spider mites. If you are dealing with a pest infestation, beneficial insects, such as ladybugs may help you get rid of them in little to no time.
Some pests, such as aphids, can be removed by washing the plant, while others are quite sensitive to neem oil. For leaf spots, on the other hand, you will have to prune the vine until you have no unhealthy or damaged parts on it. This process will also promote better air circulation.
Planting Persian Ivy
The most irresistible feature of the Persian ivy is its tolerance to various types of growing mediums. This vine can grow in almost any soil as long as it comes with a few particular characteristics. The perfect soil for the Persian ivy includes very sharp drainage, is highly rich in organic matter, and is neutral to alkaline with a pH of 6.0 or higher.
During its period of interest, from spring through autumn, the Persian ivy will benefit from a bit of extra attention from you regarding fertilizing. In general, you should fertilize this vine once every month in both the active growing and blooming seasons.
Besides winter, feed your Persian ivy with a nitrogen-rich, water-soluble fertilizer designed for plants with foliage. We recommend you mix the product according to the package instructions and apply it to the soil just near the roots.
Once in a while, it would be nice for your Persian ivy if you pinch young shoots to help new, healthy branches to show up. Also, you should regularly cut off any yellow, withered, or unhealthy leaves you can find on your adult vine using a clean pair of garden scissors. In case you want to keep this vine on the shorter side, all you need to do is cut it short once every year in spring.
If you are growing your Persian ivy in a pot, you must repot it once every year or two to give it a brand new start again. Make sure you opt for a new container that is about one size larger than the current one your vine has. In this process, you can also replace half of the soil with a fresher one to improve drainage and the overall well-being of your plant.
Watering Persian Ivy
Luckily, the Persian ivy does not have a picky or demanding nature when it comes to watering. In fact, this vine becomes relatively drought-tolerant once established. You can basically water its growing medium when you notice that it dried out completely. For pot-grown specimens, you can add water until excess drains from the container.
When the leaves of the Persian ivy turn yellow, this might be an indicator that the plant does not experience sufficient air humidity. If this happens, it is best to spray its foliage with water to moisten it.
Brown leaves that feature dry margins are also a sign that your Persian ivy does not receive a proper watering routine. In other words, this is the common look of a vine that gets too little water in general. If you notice this on your plant, take action as soon as possible by spoiling it with a generous drink.
Propagating Persian Ivy
Although the Persian ivy already grows and spreads everywhere as it wishes, you might want to add this plant in other spots in your house or garden. If this is the case, you can always propagate your Persian ivy through stem cuttings and enjoy having more specimens around. Do not think too much about the process, as it is super easy to do even for beginners!
You can take stem cuttings from your Persian ivy whenever you want except for those times with extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters. You should use a clean pair of scissors to take cuttings of 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm) in length. Once you have as many cuttings as you want, you must remove the leaves from the first bottom 2 inches (5 cm).
After completing this step, place the Persian ivy cuttings in their individual container (glass) filled with water. For optimal results, you will need to pay attention to some details. First, you should change the water once every few days to keep it fresh.
Second, keep the cuttings in a cool environment that also provides them with relatively high humidity levels. When the adorable roots develop and measure about 2 to 3 inches(5-7.5 cm) in length, you can move the cuttings into pots filled with the same substrate in which the mother plant grows.
In Conclusion
The Persian ivy is one of the most exquisite and low-maintenance species of vines that will thrive in a wide range of environments and won’t require a lot of effort on your part. This climber is a perfect addition to many different types of gardens and it is very common in urban areas. If the species did not convince you with its beauty already, we warmly suggest you check out the varieties this plant has to offer. The added ornamental value will be incomparable!
Are you growing Persian Ivy? Share your experience in the comments!
