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Climber Wall Shrub

Hedera hibernica (Hibernica Group) 'Variegata' (v)

Irish ivy 'Variegata'

Vigorous, large, self-clinging, evergreen climber about 10m tall, with large, shallowly 5-lobed, matt green or yellowish-green leaves, sometimes unevenly variegated or irregularly spotted with cream or white, or half green, half white. Small greenish flowers in umbels are followed by black berries

Synonyms

Hedera helix var. hibernica 'Variegata'
Hedera hibernica 'Aureomarginata'
see moreHedera hibernica 'Variegata'
Hedera canariensis 'Aurea'
Hedera hibernica 'Pallida'
Hedera hibernica 'Hibernica Variegata'
Hedera helix 'Pallida'
Hedera hibernica 'Aureomaculata'
Hedera hibernica 'Harlequin'
Hedera helix 'Harlequin'

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten: skin irritant/allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents): Harmful if eaten, skin irritant/allergen. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Hedera are evergreen climbing shrubs clinging by aerial roots. Clusters of small yellow-green flowers are followed by usually black berries. Foliage of flowering shoots is often less deeply lobed than that of the sterile, climbing shoots
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Tolerant of a range of soils and conditions but grows best in ferile, humus-rich well-drained alkaline soil in a sheltered spot. See hedera (ivy) cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings at any time, semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings from late summer to late winter, layering or grafting at any time

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Climber and wall shrubs
Ground cover
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 11, at any time

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, vine weevil and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a leaf spot

Get involved

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