1 named cultivar

‘Green Spice’Green Spice English Ivy

vine

Persian Ivy

Hedera colchica

The Story

Plant Bio

Hedera colchica, Persian ivy, is a broadleaf evergreen climbing vine from the western Caucasus and northern Turkey, reaching thirty to a hundred feet on a support and spreading ten to fifty feet as groundcover. Brown stems carry aerial rootlets that cling to whatever they touch, and greenish-white autumn flowers give round black berries in winter.

The leaves are the largest of any ivy, often the size of a hand, which makes it read as a bold texture rather than the fine mesh of common ivy. It also flowers in autumn and fruits in winter, feeding bees and birds when almost nothing else is available. It is not native to North America and spreads freely, so site it deliberately.

Uses & Benefits:

The largest leaves of any ivy, evergreen and bold, on a plant that covers walls and banks fast.

Takes deep shade, drought, dry soil and erosion-prone slopes where little else establishes.

Autumn flowers feed bees and winter berries feed songbirds, both at scarce times of year.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Vine

Height

480 inches

Width

300 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Western Caucasus and northern Turkey

Toxicity

Berries and foliage toxic if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in shade or dappled light in any drained soil.
Give it a wall, tree or fence to cling to.
Water while establishing, then leave it alone.
Cut back hard in spring to control spread.
Keep it off timber and painted surfaces.
Do not let it run into woodland.

Pro Tip

Cut it back hard every spring — left alone it climbs a hundred feet and the aerial rootlets lift paint and mortar as they go.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it something to climb 🧗
Cut it back hard each spring ✂️
Let it take deep shade and drought 🌑
Keep it clear of woodland edges 🚧

Don't

Let it climb painted timber ❌
Plant it near natural areas ❌
Assume it will stay a groundcover ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Covering a wall, fence or bankDeep-shade groundcover under treesErosion control on a slope

Companion Plants

Hellebore Christmas Fern Epimedium Vinca Liriope

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Persian Ivy questions

What zones can Persian Ivy grow in?

Persian Ivy is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Persian Ivy deer resistant?

Yes — Persian Ivy is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Persian Ivy bloom?

Persian Ivy typically blooms in fall through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Persian Ivy need full sun?

Persian Ivy does best in part shade.

Is Persian Ivy drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Persian Ivy handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.