Ask Me Help Desk - Help with German Ivy

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickle

I hope there are some super gardeners out there who can give me advice on new German Ivy planting.

I planted two new plants on a north facing wall a month ago and they still haven't started to climb. I find this unusual because English ivy starts also immediately.
I am thinking there must be some hard and fast rule about German Ivy not starting on a north facing wall, that is the only thing I can attribute to the lack of climbing.

So, if there is anyone conversant with the different climbing Ivies, would like to hear from them regarding this unusual question.

Tick

Hello Tick, how are you?

German Ivy; also known as Parlor or Cape Ivy is actually a member of the Aster family a perennial, and not a true Ivy.

The rule is not hard, and fast, but Your Ivy would prefer a sunnier location.
Light: German Ivy's like bright light, even full sun in the winter. They will even tolerate light shade.

Temperature: A minimum of 10°C (50°F) in winter. It could tolerate it going into the 30s and even 20's a few times each winter.

Hardiness: USDA Zone 11: above 4.5°C (40°F), but there have been reports of it being hardy to zone 10, 9, and (8, 10 to 20°F -12.3 to -6.6°C).

For your area you would be in (5b) -26.1 -23.4°C to (6a) -23.3 -20.6°C If you are still there off Lake Erie.
That would be about a -14 to -4°F here in the States.

English Ivy is hardy to USDA Zone 6, (-10 to 0°F) (-23.3 to -17.8°C).

So it does sound like you have a problem with light, and will have with cold weather.

My best suggestion:
If you have any viable cuttings left re-start them indoors, and when you think they are ready to go outside come Spring plant them on your North wall.
Then hope they will re-seed themselves.