Persian ivy
Hedera colchica · Araliaceae
📷 Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Chiens/chats : feuilles toxiques par ingestion, troubles digestifs et irritation buccale. Humains : sève et feuilles irritantes par contact et ingestion.
Persian ivy is a vigorous evergreen climbing plant with elegant, large leaves and discreet yellow-green flowers in autumn. It's a robust choice for shaded areas and adapts well to various growing conditions once established.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around persian ivy and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- Autumn (discreet yellow-green flowers)
- Adult size
- Up to 5 m in height when climbing
- Growth
- Vigorous
- Hardiness
- Down to around -15 °C
- Origin
- Caucasus region and northern Iran
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerant
- Toxicity
- Toxic to domestic animals
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Hedera colchica grows slowly in the first years, then picks up speed. Plant it in compost-enriched soil and water regularly during the first year.
The common mistake
Getting impatient and ripping it out before it really takes off—many people do this.
The pro's trick
Help it along by gently tying the young stems to their support (stake or wall) with soft twine for the first two years.
Care
Exposure
Persian ivy prefers shaded or partially shaded areas, unlike some other ivies. It tolerates situations without direct sunlight well and develops ideally in woodland understorey or against a north-facing wall. Too much sun can scorch its foliage.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist during the first year, then gradually reduce. Once established, Persian ivy is quite tolerant of drought. Water more in summer and reduce in winter, avoiding waterlogging.
Pruning and training
Prune regularly to manage vigorous growth and encourage a compact, dense habit. Young plants benefit from formative pruning. You can prune at any time of year, but prefer spring for main interventions.
Soil
Persian ivy tolerates a wide variety of soils provided they're well-drained. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral substrate enriched with organic matter. Improve poor soils with compost when planting.
Fertilising
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to support vigorous growth. An annual application is usually sufficient for an established plant. Prefer compost or organic amendment instead.
Diseases and pests
Persian ivy is generally robust. Watch for scale insects and red spider mites in dry conditions. Root rot problems mainly occur after excessive watering. Ensure good drainage and aeration around the base.
Did you know?
Persian ivy was once considered a major ornamental variant of common ivy in European temperate gardens, prized for its large elegant leaves and robust growth. Its scientific name 'colchica' refers to Colchis, a historic region of the Caucasus, birthplace of many mythological legends, including that of the Golden Fleece.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Common ivyHedera helix
- Japanese angelica treeAralia elata
- Japanese araliaFatsia japonica
- Cabbage treeCussonia spicata
- Fatsia polycarpaFatsia polycarpa
- Algerian ivyHedera algeriensis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.