1 named cultivar

‘Creme de Menthe’Creme de Menthe Ivy

vine

Japanese Ivy

The Story

Plant Bio

Hedera rhombea, Japanese ivy, is a clinging evergreen vine of temperate eastern Asia, climbing ten to thirty feet. Juvenile leaves are diamond-shaped with three lobes and a heart-shaped base while adult branch leaves are mostly plain oval, and small yellow-green flowers in autumn give round berries that blacken through winter into spring.

The two leaf shapes belong to the same plant: juvenile climbing growth is lobed and diamond-shaped, adult flowering wood is plain and oval, so a mature vine looks like two species at once. It is smaller and better mannered than the common and Persian ivies, which makes it the one that suits a container or a modest wall.

Uses & Benefits:

Evergreen cover with two distinct leaf shapes, and black berries that hold from winter into spring.

Smaller and better mannered than common or Persian ivy, so it suits a container or a modest wall.

Autumn flowers draw pollinators and the winter berries feed birds when food is scarce.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Vine

Height

240 inches

Width

27 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Temperate eastern Asia

Toxicity

Berries and foliage toxic if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in shade or dappled light in drained soil.
Give it a wall, trellis or post to cling to.
Water while establishing, then leave it alone.
Trim in spring to keep it within bounds.
Grow it in a container to limit spread.
Leave adult wood if you want the berries.

Pro Tip

Cut only juvenile lobed growth for cuttings — pieces taken from adult oval-leaved wood root into bushes that never climb.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it something to cling to 🧗
Trim it back each spring ✂️
Let it take deep shade 🌑
Keep adult wood for berries 🫐

Don't

Let it climb painted timber ❌
Take cuttings from adult wood ❌
Plant it in full hot sun ❌

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 modest wall or trellisContainer and vertical plantingGroundcover on a shaded bank

Companion Plants

Japanese Painted Fern HostaHellebore Liriope Aucuba

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Japanese Ivy questions

What zones can Japanese Ivy grow in?

Japanese Ivy is hardy in USDA Zones 6–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Japanese Ivy deer resistant?

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

When does Japanese Ivy bloom?

Japanese 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 Japanese Ivy need full sun?

Japanese Ivy does best in part shade.