Ivy

Ivy is a creeping evergreen plant that attaches to the surface it grows on, although care must be taken to make sure it does so in a controlled way. It can climb vertically or sprawl across the ground. The fruit the plant produces provides food for a variety of different birds, and insects feast on the leaves.

Description
Ivy ranges in colour from dark green to golden yellow and there are ivy plants that like sunlight and those that prefer shady areas.

Habitat
The Ivy plant originates from various regions of Europe and Asia, from Macaronesia, across Africa to far East Asian regions of Taiwan and Japan.

Availability
Ivy plants often produce shoots that, once they have a root base on them, can then be potted. These plants can take a while to become established, but once new growth begins, keep up with regular trimming to ensure it does not spread too wildly.

Species
The genus of Hedera is usually used for the description of Ivy. It is in the Araliaceae family. The species are vast due to the plant sporting often, which produces a shoot that is different to the parent plant.

Care Tips
Ivy should be planted in soil that has a small amount of lime in it. When you are potting the plant you should place some lime at the base of the pot. Once the Ivy is established it is easy to care for, as generally the plant requires little attention, although it’s advisable to prune regularly to ensure it stays at a manageable size.

Did You Know?
In ancient Greek times, Dionysos, the God of wine, was believed to hold Ivy as a sacred plant.

During Christmas, if Ivy is combined with holly then it symbolises that the man and woman of a home will come together in peace.

Ivy leaves were boiled in ancient medicine to be used in the treatment of corns.

References
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298333/ivy
http://www.ivyhedera.org.uk/generalinformation.html