Flowering Irish Ivy (Black Diamond) Traditional Cache

Flowering Irish Ivy is obviously another invasive climber on this invaded trail. Amazing to see it in flower! It looks like a jungle out there.

As always, BYOP!

Does Ivy Bloom?

In fact, all ivies flower when they reach maturity. The problem is that “maturity” may not be reached for 10 years or so, or not at all.

Ivies are woody plants in the Hedera genus that either creep or climb, depending on whether there is a structure nearby. The size and color of the plants’ flowers vary depending on species but most have small yellow flowers borne in clusters. Ivies typically bloom in fall and early winter and serve as an excellent source of food for several types of insects at a time of year when there isn’t a lot of nectar available to them. Examples of flowering ivies include:

Algerian Ivy

Algerian ivy(Hedera canariensis or Hedera algeriensis), is loved for its red stems holding large leaves. Gardeners also like its ability to tolerate salt, shade and any type of soil, as long as it’s kept moist. Like all ivies, if you cut it back it produces new growth, never matures and thus, produces no flowers. Algerian ivy does best when grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10. This plant is considered invasive in California.

Irish Ivy

Hedera hibernica, commonly known as Irish ivy, bears tiny light green or white flowers. The contrast of the flowers against the ivy’s deep green foliage makes for a charming display as the ivy climbs over structures or creeps along the ground. Listed as a noxious weed in Washington state, check your state’s requirements before planting Irish ivy.

Bullock’s Heart Ivy

Bullock's heart ivy Hedera colchina  blooms in early autumn with small greenish-white flowers. Gardener’s enjoy the plant’s variegated foliage and its ability to thrive in either partial or full shade. Bullock’s heart ivy has the largest leaves of any of the ivies. If you don’t mind the plant failing to produce flowers, feel free to use a lawn mower on it to keep it compact and tidy. Grow Bullock’s heart ivy in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9.

As stated earlier, all ivies flower if they are allowed to reach maturity. By that time, however, some species will have taken over the entire neighborhood.

Hedera hibernica (common name Atlantic ivy or Irish ivy) is a woody vine native to the Atlantic coast of Europe.

It is an evergreen climbing plant, growing to 20–30 m high where suitable surfaces (trees,cliffs, walls) are available, and also growing as ground cover where there are no vertical surfaces. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets which cling to the substrate. Native to the Atlantic region, it has been cultivated and can appear in the wild outside its original area, along the Atlantic coast from Portugal, Spain, France, British Isles, Germany, Scandinavian countries, and Baltic Sea.

The bark is first green, but soon after it becomes gray. Old branches are light gray with a finely furrowed bark. Buds are almost hidden by the leaf base, egg-shaped and bright green. The leaves have entire margins and are ovoid or with five triangular lobes. The surface is glossy dark green with light ribs, while the underside is pale green. The leaves of flowering shoots are, however, oval with entire margins. Flowering occurs in September-October. The fruits are blue-black berries. The whole plant and also the berries are slightly poisonous.

The plant has an attractive and elegant aspect. It is quite common in gardening. Like the relatedH. helix (English ivy), H. hibernica is aninvasive weed in parts of North America with mild winters: in a recent study, 83% of 119 populations of invasive ivy sampled in the Pacific Northwest were found to be H. hibernica and not H. helix as was previously thought. In fact it can be troublesome in any garden, rapidly colonising hedges, trees and borders if not kept in check.

Ecology

Hedera hibernica with berries, Hertfordshire, UK, February

It may be a noxious weed or be invasive. It requires consistently moist soil, and can grow in any light environment from full sun to deep shade. Its natural habitat is forest or dense bush which is cool and cloud-covered for much of the year, such as is often found in mountainous regions near the ocean. It prefers well-drained or alkaline soils rich in nutrients and humus.

The cache is another tied in, camped, “micro” pill bottle, that you have to push hard to open and close.  Please return as found and report if you notice any problem with the cache. Don’t forget to BYOP!