I'm looking for Ivy for a shady area. Thanks DM
Does anyone have Ivy to give away?
what kind of ivy?
Any kind that grows in shade, zone 4-5. Probably Boston or English. I need to cover an area that is dirt. Thanks DM
can you root cuttings?
Sticks,
I have never rooted cuttings. I do have a lady that is sending me Ivy. Thanks for asking DM
Cuttings are easily rooted in water.
DM, I just saw your post or I'd have offered you some; I collect Ivies. Where you are in z4b is on their border for hardiness- goood soil and some mulch will help, plus there are a couple ivies that are selected for their winter hardiness.
Hi James,
I think we are closer to zone 5. I plant alot of zone 5 plants. I just had a lady send me some Boston Ivy today. Thanks for the offer though. Since you collect Ivy, do you think Boston Ivy will climb a chain link fence? I have deep shade, and dappled shade areas, will it do good in both areas? Thanks again DM
Boston Ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, (not a true Ivy), will grow in shade and sun, and I have seen it on chain link. It is perhaps most used for clinging to flat surfaces like brick walls because it has adaptable tendrils that turn into suction cups. It has great autumn colour and makes some decorative berries, as the plant is a cousin of grapes. It will probably be thicker in the sunnier spots you have and tend to have more colours there.
Thanks for the information James.
More questions. What is your opinion of growing it up a spruce tree? the tree is very large. All the lower limbs have been trimmed to about 8-10 ft.
How fast does it grow or spread? You also stated that their are selected varieties for cold hardy , do you know them off the top of your head? DM
It seems like there was another one, but here is the famous 'Thorndale,' reputedly the hardiest english ivy:
http://www.denverplants.com/perennials/html/heder_tho.htm
Both English Ivy and Boston Ivy will climb your spruce. The English would cover the ground first and start up the trunk on its own accord, the Boston could cling to either the trunk or the branches. Either one would be nice, but is the spruce is blue, then the boston ivy would look amazing on it in the autumn. I imagine that your climate would keep either one from being a horrible nuisance to the tree.
Speed of growth. Well, it largely depends on the conditions and how happy the plant is in them. When english Ivy is established, soe of its stems will grow three feet in a season here, but most won't. In a wetter climate, I am sure that they grow much faster. i am not certain about the rate of the Boston Ivy, but I think that it would be slightly slower. Figure on a tiny cutting being planted and looking like a respectable plant in two years, and filling a space nicely in five. Vines in general are fast growers.
I hope this helps.
Thanks so much James, it helps alot.