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These ten options are true ivies in the genus Hedera: three species and seven named cultivars, not ten separate botanical species. They range from vigorous climbers to more restrained foliage plants. To choose well, consider where you want ivy to grow, how much light the spot receives, your soil and winter conditions, and whether English ivy is considered invasive locally.
How to choose among these ivies
Start with the job. Some Hedera make vigorous wall climbers; others are more manageable as groundcover or container plants. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says the genus suits all three uses and notes that restrained types can also be used for topiary or edging (RHS ivy growing guide). The ten entries below are examples, not a ranking: the RHS lists 12 Hedera species, and the reviewed sources do not provide comparable measurements for every cultivar.
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- For a climber: Common ivy is a vigorous, self-clinging choice, but plan for regular containment.
- For acidic soil: RHS suggests Persian or Algerian ivy rather than common ivy.
- For patterned foliage: Choose a variegated cultivar and give it more light than a plain green form.
- For a wall or tree: Check the surface or planting site and the plant’s local invasive status before allowing vigorous growth.
10 types of ivy to know
1. Common or English ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen species is a vigorous climber that attaches with adventitious roots. Juvenile growth usually has three- to five-lobed leaves; mature stems have less-lobed foliage and can flower and fruit. RHS describes common ivy as growing best in alkaline soil. It is useful as a climber or groundcover, but its vigor makes it important to manage where it could spread.
2. Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis)
Algerian ivy is a large-leaved species. RHS suggests it as an option for acidic conditions, but warns that cold, drying winter winds can damage it and that it may suffer in severe UK winters. That warning is specific to UK conditions; check suitability for your own climate.
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3. Persian ivy (Hedera colchica)
Persian ivy is another large-leaved option that RHS recommends for acidic soil. Its foliage can make it a bold choice where there is room for a substantial ivy. The RHS growing guide uses the name Hedera colchica; its separate profile uses Hedera coriacea and lists synonyms. This article follows the growing guide’s name without making a broader taxonomic claim.
4. ‘Goldchild’ (Hedera helix)
‘Goldchild’ is a RHS-listed variegated common-ivy cultivar. As with other patterned ivies, provide some sunlight to help retain its variegation; deep shade is generally better suited to plain green forms.
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5. ‘Glacier’ (Hedera helix)
‘Glacier’ is a variegated cultivar of common ivy listed by RHS. Its patterned leaves make it a foliage choice where you can offer more light than a deep-shade planting site provides.
6. ‘Oro di Bogliasco’ (Hedera helix)
This RHS-listed variegated cultivar adds another patterned-leaf option within Hedera helix. Cultivar performance and availability vary, so confirm the plant label and local suitability when buying.
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7. ‘Erecta’ (Hedera helix)
‘Erecta’ is a named common-ivy cultivar listed by RHS. The reviewed source identifies it as a cultivar but does not establish a comparable mature size or growth rate, so use the nursery’s local plant description when choosing a specific planting position.
8. ‘Clotted Cream’ (Hedera helix)
RHS lists ‘Clotted Cream’ as a variegated common-ivy cultivar. Like other variegated forms, it is better suited to a site with some sunlight than to the deepest shade.
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9. ‘Sulphur Heart’ (Hedera colchica)
‘Sulphur Heart’ is a Persian-ivy cultivar with a yellow central splash on its leaves, according to RHS. It combines the large-leaved character of Persian ivy with a distinct foliage pattern.
10. ‘Marginomaculata’ (Hedera algeriensis)
This variegated Algerian-ivy cultivar is listed by RHS. Consider both its light needs as a patterned plant and the species’ potential vulnerability to cold, drying winter winds in UK conditions.
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What kind of ivy is this?
Leaf shape can help, but it is not a reliable identification shortcut on its own. Many Hedera have a juvenile climbing phase with lobed leaves and a mature phase with less-lobed leaves; mature growth can also flower and produce berries. RHS says established plants normally change phase after around ten years, an approximate generalization rather than a fixed timetable. Regular pruning can help maintain juvenile growth; letting mature growth develop can benefit wildlife.
To identify a garden plant, check the botanical name on its label or compare it with a reliable species or cultivar profile. A variegated leaf pattern may narrow the possibilities, but the reviewed sources do not establish a complete visual key for all ten selections.
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Light, soil and watering
- Light: RHS says plain green ivy can grow in deep shade, while variegated types do best with some sunlight. Indoors, use low or indirect light; move a variegated plant to a brighter position if it loses color, while avoiding direct sun through glass.
- Soil: Hedera tolerates many soil types and varying degrees of shade, but the soil or potting compost must drain. RHS describes common ivy as best in alkaline soils and suggests Persian or Algerian ivy for acidic conditions.
- Water and containers: Avoid waterlogged soil or compost. Choose a container with free drainage and do not let water collect around the roots.
Growth, wildlife and structures
Ivy can provide cover and late-season flowers for wildlife, but vigorous growth may spread into borders and smother smaller plants. RHS says ivy does not directly harm healthy trees or sound masonry, yet it can enter gutters, windows and roofs. When removed from a building, it may pull away paint or loose mortar. RHS gives a maximum height of up to 30 m for ivy on its building-advice page; that is a stated potential, not a typical height for every plant or site.
Before removing established ivy from a wall, inspect the masonry and test a small area. For routine containment, trim stems away from vulnerable features; RHS says once-yearly pruning is often enough, depending on the plant’s size and vigor.
Check local invasive status before planting English ivy
English ivy is not a universally safe planting choice. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s profile, last reviewed March 7, 2024, describes it as invasive in some settings and notes that it can spread vegetatively and through seeds dispersed by birds from mature plants (Virginia Cooperative Extension English ivy profile). In the United States, check local invasive-plant guidance before planting or allowing it to fruit. Regional hardiness, rules and recommendations vary.
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