Nothing is more restful yet cheerful year-round than green foliage. My choice of the best foliage plant is the ivy.
Collecting ivies over the years and through purchases has been a source of great pleasure, direct importing, trading, and even polite begging.
I now have a good number of not only the fascinating new varieties but the older botanical species as well.
While many modern varieties are available in all parts of the country, some older ones are truly elusive. But if, at times, there are difficulties in tracing down longed-for kinds, it has only made anticipation keener and the search more exciting.
Helix Poetica
While the ivy in most general use is the English ivy or Hedera helix, the one associated in ancient times with religious rites and social usage was Helix Poetica, a more impressive kind native to Egypt and Greece.
This lordly plant “presenting a wondrous wealth of highly polished leafage and crowned with gracious combs of golden berries” signified virtue, prosperity, and goodwill to the people of that day.
Through association with the licentious worship of Bacchus, it lost some of these moral attributes for a time.
Still, it later regained them when it began to be used by the early Christians in their religious observances. It mingled with the holly at Christmas Time and participated in many other rejoicing festivals.
From the earliest times, it had a close connection with everyday life in Britain because it was used as a sign to designate public houses and taverns.
In some cases, a bunch of ivy was merely tied to the end of a pole to project from the building, but more often, the vine itself was allowed to cover the building with its imposing drapery.
Even as late as the 70s, it was hung out by small tradesmen who were privileged to sell liquors at fairs without a license to advertise such sales. It was also widely used in the names of places, for instance, Ivy Lane.
Most interesting modern varieties are sports; that is, they originate in a spontaneous rise of foliage differing from that of the parent plant.
They are mostly self-branching, too. Mr. Alfred E. Bates, who has extensively written about ivies, proposes that this group be referred to collectively as the Ramosa complex.
Botanically, these varieties are allied to Hedera helix hibernica. Of course, all ivies are Hederas.
Interesting Foliage
Since there is a strong demand for interesting foliage plants at present, every florist is on the alert to spot such a variation.
If a variation should occur among his plants, he would then propagate it for sale – if he can stabilize it. Some of the newest and most distinctive varieties in this group are as follows:
Burgoyne’s Green Spear
BURGOYNE’S GREEN SPEAR is a favorite of mine because of its beautifully spear-shaped leaves and graceful manner of growth.
Little clusters of new leaves emerge at each node, curling up into quite ivylike forms. Since the leaves are dainty, it makes a beautiful plant.
This was introduced in 1949 by Philip Burgoyne of Georgetown, Illinois. RAY’S SUPREME is similar in some respects but not as graceful.
Weber’s California
WEBER’S CALIFORNIA is a sport of Merlin Beauty and was introduced around 1939 by the Weber Nurseries of Los Angeles, California.
It is characterized by prolific branching and vigorous growth, throwing out new shoots freely from the base.
The leaves vary in size; the largest on my plant is 2 ½” inches in width, but the majority are less than half that.
The lobes vary in number from five to seven, according to size. It seems to be an improvement on many of the earlier ones in this group.
William’s Telecurl
One of the newest varieties is WILLIAMS’ TELECURL, introduced during the present year by Keith E. Williams of Springfield. Ohio.
Like the others in this group, it is self-branching but differs in that the lobes of each leaf are partially folded upwards from the central vein, giving the whole plant a ruffled look.
The largest leaves are 1 ½” inches broad with a long terminal lobe, but the majority are much smaller. It is dark green in color and a distinct and desirable kind.
Unusual Varieties
I learned from the introducer that WEREWS FAN is a sport of Weber’s California and was introduced in 1944.
It is very similar in appearance to Hedera helix crenata, having the same general shape and characteristic raised veins.
On some of the leaves, the sinuses, the cut-out parts of the edges, are sharper, and the size of the leaves varies greatly.
An unusual appearance is created by the good, stiff stem that stands erect with the branches trailing off at either side.
Green Ripples
GREEN RIPPLES is an odd variety. The leaves vary greatly, but all acquire a characteristic of frilling as they age.
Leaves at the tip of the twigs are light green and very narrow, but as they age, they broaden, darken in color, and assume the frilling.
It grows upright for 3″ or 4″ inches, after which it becomes pendulous. This sport of Maple Queen was discovered by Louis Halm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1939 and is distinct enough to deserve a place in a collection.
Fleur De Lis
The leaves of the variety FLEUR DE LIS are most unusual and diverse. The type of leaf fur from which it probably received its name ate those having a rounded terminal lobe broadest above the base, sharply pointed, and at the base of which are two lateral lobes; smaller, rounded, and larger than the basal lobes when the latter is present.
Some leaves have no Literal lobes; some have abortive basal lobes, and others are not distinctly lobed but are roughly triangular.
Still others are simply spear-shaped. It has the appearance of a greatly enlarged meagheri, and like that, variety is odd rather than handsome.
Odd Ivy
Somewhere along the line, I acquired a rather odd ivy that I call MY BUNCH IVY since it must have a name, and I have been unable to find the correct one.
Perhaps it does not exactly belong with the others in this group, but I list it here for convenience.
Even a large plant throws out no runners, only stout twigs that are very thick even at the tips—in fact, some are fascinated.
The leaves are diverse in shape, sometimes contorted, varying from three to five lobes. The oddest feature of this ivy is the adventitious leaflets that appear on the central vein of the terminal lobe of some leaves.
Crested Kinds
My CRESTED IVY is another one for which I give a temporary name instead of the correct one.
This is a very unusual and attractive variety, with leaves averaging about an inch in diameter, all prettily frilled with a cresting appearing on the margins as the leaves mature. In contrast, it does not branch freely.
The leaves are borne so thickly and are so frilly that the overall effect is equal to branching.
Although this seems to be similar to Curlylocks, it does not have the pink coloration on the leaf margins that the introducer gives in the description of that variety.
Curlylocks
CURLYLOCKS is a curled and crested variety. Not having seen a specimen, I would judge from the photographs that it is not strongly self-branching, but the stems are generally thickly clothed with diversified leaves, and it makes vigorous growth from the base.
Somerset Rose Nursery, Inc., of New Brunswick, New Jersey, introduced this variety to the trade in 1950 but advised that they had sold it in a small way for several years previously.
Chrysanna
CHRYSANNA seems to be a very unstable variety, with leaves varying greatly in type. Some of the smallest are of pedata type, others pear-shaped, and still others similar to the hibernica variety.
If my plant is a fair specimen, it cannot be considered of great value, for it is so unstable that no one form of foliage predominates.
Manda’s Crested
One of the most unusual varieties in my collection is MANDA’S CRESTED, which I consider curly rather than crested.
The artist’s drawing on page 22 faithfully conveys the graceful curling of each leaf. The light green leaves are very uniform in form and size and measure about 2 ½” inches each way.
Earlier Varieties
These recent members of the Ramosa complex were preceded by still others, many of which are still in commerce.
Some, however, have dropped from sight, and others took their places with greater vigor, more resistance to pests, and more distinct characteristics.
Pittsburgh
A great many stem from the variety PITTSBURGH, which was among the first introductions of this kind, if not the first.
According to “The Cultivated Hederas,” by Lawrence and Schulze, it was introduced by P. S. Randolph from 1915 to 1920.
Later, a variegated sport of this variety was introduced by R. Manila in 1938 and has been named PITTSBURGH VARIEGATED by Alfred Bate.
Long Point
LONG POINT, originated by W. A. Manila, was also named by Mr. Bate. It is very much like Pittsburgh, of which it is supposed to be a sport.
We no longer hear of it in the trade as it seemed to be in a state of reversion several years ago and may be lost by this time.
Hahn’s Self-Branching
HAHN’S SELF-BRANCHING, a sport discovered by Hahn in 1927 and introduced in 1932, was said to differ from Pittsburgh by having more abundant lateral branches and larger leaves. But there is doubt whether this still holds, as sonic characters have reverted.
Erect and Shrubby
Albany
One of the most distinct characteristics of the variety ALBANY, introduced about 1935 by Fred Danker of Albany, New York, is its erect, shrubby habit.
The twigs are still, and the leaf stems stout, giving it quite a rugged appearance. Lawrence and Schulze believe it to be closely allied to H. helix hibernica, as reversions resemble that variety.
Merlon Beauty
MERLON BEAUTY, a sport of Pittsburgh, was introduced in 1937 or 1938 by Henry Faust of Merion, Pennsylvania, who has since discontinued it because of its lack of resistance to red spiders and thrips.
It is still offered by many florists, probably because of the long, willowy branches thickly clothed with auxiliary shoots, making a dense, compact plant.
Lawrence and Schulze say that the coloration of twigs, petioles, and leaves suggests that of H. helix gracilis, although the leaves are of thicker texture.
Hedera Helix Meagheri
H. HELIX MEAGHERI is the same plant that Mr. Bate discusses and pictures in a 1940 issue of “The National Horticultural Magazine ” under the name of Green Feather because he did not accept the Latinized name given it.
However, Lawrence and Schulze have restored the original name as valid and published the first botanical description of it in Latin. This establishes it under the name given it by Fred Danker, the originator, who named it after the employee who discovered it.
Pink Oak
A very closely related form, PIN OAK, was originated by the Henry Faust firm and was later replaced with PIN OAK IMPROVED.
Plants sold under the name of Pin Oak differ from meagheri by having dense foliage and flatter leaves, predominantly three-lobed or occasionally unlobed and acutely deltoid in outline.
Maple Queen and Sylvanian Beauty
MAPLE QUEEN and IMPROVED SYLVANIAN BEAUTY are two very popular introductions of Louis Hahn.
Their description of Maple Queen refers to it as medium small, having radiate leaves with varix veins and short petioles. It also has bushy and compact growth and branches freely without trimming.
Improved Sylvanian Beauty has leaves that are shield-shaped in outline with three prominent lobes, pointed and cordate at the base.
In general, it is characterized by its density of growth, the shape of leaves, and its habit of growing to a height of 8 inches before becoming pendulous.
Variegated Ivies
Because of the lack of chlorophyll in the white or light-colored portion of the leaves, variegated kinds are slightly harder to grow.
Yet a few of these add such interest to a collection that they are worth the extra attention required.
These are among the most elusive of the clan, but the difficulty in obtaining them only makes the pursuit more challenging.
Hedera Helix Discolor
The variety HEDERA HELIX DISCOLOR was first described in the Gardener’s Chronicle of England in 1867.
The description given in Hibberd’s monograph, “The Ivy,” is reinforced by a colored picture showing a small leaf of dull, dark green, lightly spotted with gray variegation.
The young growth is brightest and slightly tinged with red. Some plants observed in this country, however, had lost the variegation, and the leaves were dark green with conspicuous grayish-white veins.
Hedera Helix Maculata
H. H. MACULATA is not widely cultivated nor offered by dealers in this country. It is similar to H. h. hibernica except for light-colored variegation, which does not form a band at the margins.
Hibberd describes it under the name of H. grandiflora maculata and calls it “an extremely beautiful plant.”
Marginal Variegations
H. H. CAVENDISH is recently interpreted as covering several small marginally variegated ivies “irrespective of leaf shape or shade and width of variegation.”
This was done to bring some order into the nomenclature of a group -of extremely unstable ivies to which nearly a score of names was originally applied to slight variations and even to the same clones within the group.
Hedera Canariensis Variegata
H. CANARIENSIS VARIEGATA is a handsome large-leaved plant that came to me under the unauthorized name of Gloire de Marengo.
The white to pale yellow variegation runs in good-sized areas from the margins toward the dark green centers, streaked and blotched with lighter greens and gray greens.
Hedera Helix Tricolor
Not having seen H. H. TRICOLOR, I ran only a report that is described as similar to H. H. cavendish, except that the leaf margins become red in autumn, depending upon outside conditions.
Hedera Canariensis Canary Cream
H. CANARIENSIS CANARY CREAM is the name Lawrence and Schulze gave to a form of this species having leaves broadly ovate, shallowly lobed, and marginally variegated cream or ivory color.
Some of the leaves may be without any green color at all.
While it was in the trade, it lacked a correct name and was offered under the invalid designation of H. h. maculata, which belongs to another one.
Hedera Colchica Dentata-Variegata
H. COLCHICA DENTATA-VARIEGATA is botanically a variegated form of the variety dentato and has been widely distributed in the trade, although not under the exact name given here.
The leaves are quite large, practically heart-shaped, and marginally variegated in cream color.
Hedera Helix Glacier
H. H. GLACIER is a fine modern variety that originated in the Weber Nurseries and was introduced sometime around 1943. The medium to small leaves are variegated with white, irregularly distributed on the margins.
The center of the leaves is blotched with two or three shades of medium green, the lightest of which is gray-green. The thickly clothed tendrils spray out uniformly to make an attractive plant.
Silver Garland
Another good modern variety in this class is SILVER GARLAND. Its leaves are about a third larger than those of Glacier, and the coloration tends to be creamy and yellow without the green shading of the latter.
It is a handsome plant and seems to be a thrifty grower—a valuable attribute in variegated plants.
Hedera Helix Gold Dust
The Webber firm introduced H. H. GOLD DUST. As there are not many variegated green and yellow ivies, this one is worthy of note.
The three-lobed leaves vary from 1 ½” inches in width to double that, but the average is the smaller dimension.
The leaves are irregular in shape, with extra lobes occurring on some. Others are unsymmetrical.
The mottling is most pronounced on the new growth, where it is light colored with yellow predominating. On the older leaves, the dark green is more predominant.
Hedera Helix Silver Queen
H. H. SILVER QUEEN was received from an English nursery. The leaves are small and very shallowly three-lobed, varying in shape. Some also lack basal lobes.
The cream-colored variegation is distributed around the margins, while the leaf centers are pale bright green. I have two bad hits long enough to learn how vigorous it may be.
Hedera Helix Buttercup
H. H. BUTTERCUP is another received from the same source, and from the shape of- the leaves, I should judge this to be a sport of H. helix. I have not found it mentioned anywhere in the literature on the subject.
The largest leaves are an inch wide, but the average is about half that. The color is quite different from anything else in my collection, being a uniform, bright yellow-green. It branches freely.
Hedera Rhombea Variegata
There is a variegated form of the Japanese ivy, H. rhombea, which is H. RHOMBEA VARIEGATA. It has the typical leaves of the species with narrow marginal variegations.
I might add that many of the variegated ones described here are figured in “The Cultivated Hederas.”
Fascinating Ivy Collections
A collection of ivies is indeed fascinating. While they are not grown for flowers, by the same token, they need neither forcing into bloom nor hiding their shabby looks afterward.
It leaves one free to concentrate on the enjoyment of their sharpness. Clear lines, their shining green foliage, and grace as they are silhouetted against the windowpane.
44659 by Bess L. Shippy