Hedera helix 'Kolibri' (v)
A compact evergreen climber to about 45cm tall, with small, neat, 5-lobed mid-green leaves, variegated and flecked creamy-white, with long pointed central lobes and short-pointed lateral lobes. Ideal as a houseplant, for patio containers or garden edging
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Cream White | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Cream White | |||
| Autumn | Green Cream White | |||
| Winter | Green Cream White |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing, Trailing
- 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 fertile, humus-rich well-drained alkaline soil in a sheltered spot. Ideal for patio containers, or as a houseplant. See Hedera (ivy) cultivation and Hedera as a house plant for further advice
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
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- hanging basket
- Houseplants
- Rock garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Bedding
- Flower borders and beds
- Garden edging
- Ground cover
Pruning
Pruning group 11, at any time
Pests
May be susceptible to red spider mites, scale insects and aphids
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), fungal leaf spot, see leaf damage on woody plants
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.