Hedera helix Glacier

About Hedera 'Glacier':

Hedera helix 'Glacier' is a delightful variegated ivy which will grow in any moist well-drained soil and, although it prefers the soil to be alkaline, it will tolerate a degree of acidity. It is vigorous but tidy in growth habit and easy to control. It can be pruned at any time and to any degree, quite happy to regrow on old wood. It is fully hardy but will suffer in cold winds. It clings to a host or wall by means of aerial roots and does not need support once established. An excellent addition to our range of ivies

Great for your garden:

Hedera helix 'Glacier' is a very useful evergreen climber, providing light in dark corners and an easily controlled background climber to compliment delicate shrubs and herbaceous plants. It can be used to quickly cover unsightly fences or outbuildings and its neat habit means it can be used even in small spaces.

It is self supporting and reliably healthy being happy in all situations except really dense shade. Grow it on a pillar, into a small tree or even use it for topiary when the plant is grown in a pot and trained into a frame - particularly as a 'lollipop' - when it will grace any terrace.

Hedera helix 'Glacier' characteristics.

• Evergreen, small grey/green leaves with an irregular cream edge
• Good in sun or partial shade
• Originating from The Canaries and North Africa
• Self supporting
• Wonderful habitat and food source for birds and insects
• Fast growing to 2.5m
• Very hardy out of very cold winds
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

Look out for:

Hedera helix 'Glacier' is generally healthy and easy to grow although aphids, scale insects, vine weevil and leafspot can very occasionally cause a problem. Use gloves when pruning the climber as the sap can prove an irritant and ingesting any part of the plant will cause severe discomfort.

Trivia:

Hedera helix has been with us for several thousand years and can be considered a native, seen everywhere growing into trees and as ground cover. Although 'Glacier' is a variety, it still retains its position in our ecology. It plays host to many insects and provides shelter and good nest cover for many birds. Ivies are often removed from trees as, when they get too vigorous, they can damage their host, making the tree top heavy and competing for nutrients. The varieties, however, will not prove difficult.