Types of Ivy to Grow in Your Yard

Ivies are beautiful plants, symbolizing the lush vigor of summertime, but they can also be invasive. But if carefully selected and managed, ivy can bring in a fairytale, even bohemian, glamour to your garden year-round. In the autumn, some will turn a fiery rouge and lend seasonal color. The Greeks dedicated ivy to Bacchus, and in the Victorian era, its clinging nature rendered it a symbol of everlasting devotion. 

Most ivies, like English Ivy or Persian Ivy, have aerial rootlets that attach to surfaces, making trellises ideal for vertical growth. Although English ivy sports the quintessential lush ivy look, experts dissuade gardeners from growing it due to its invasive nature. There are several alternatives you can choose from – some ivies are compact enough and can even be grown indoors in pots. 

Here’s a guide to help you choose the perfect ivy for your yard.

 

1. Baltic Ivy 

A dirt spot in the yard is automatically made more interesting once groundcovers like ivy are applied. Though similar to English ivy, Baltic ivy is considered less aggressive in growth and displays somewhat better cold tolerance. It is often used on steep banks to combat erosion. 

2. Algerian Ivy

Algerian ivy, particularly its variegated form, has glossy, showy leaves, almost as if it were meant to be a houseplant. Indeed, it is recommended that many gardeners grow it indoors, as it suited only for zones 7 and above. It can spread aggressively, though some gardeners chose to contain it using containers or raised beds. Like many ivies, it has stabilizing benefits that make it a mildly useful décor rather than a nuisance. 

3. Boston Ivy

Known for adorning many historic campuses and transforming its worn facades into autumn spectacles, Boston Ivy readily climbs structures. While it is better than English ivy in terms of menace, care should be taken to avoid damage to wood siding, gutters, and roofing. Modern brickwork with a strong infrastructure is usually fine. 

4. Fenway Park Boston Ivy

Sometimes, even mundane environments give host to new varieties, as was in the case for Arnold Arboretum scientist Peter Del Tredici, who discovered a yellow-leafed mutant strain on a nearby apartment building. After he was granted permission to name it after Fenway Park, it became one of the most popular types of ivy. Depending on growing conditions, its shade vacillates from a chartreuse to lime green.  

 

5.  Persian Ivy 

Persian ivy is a luxuriant groundcover with thick, leathery leaves. It has many versatile uses, including cascading over hanging baskets or scrambling over fences. For unattractive facades, ivy is a vital vine – its roots do well on chain-link fences, obscuring the ugliness. 'Dentata aurea,' 'Variegata,' and 'Sulphur heart' are all versions of variegated varieties. 

6. Hedera helix ‘Tripod’

One of the more interesting ivies, Hedera helix ‘Tripod’ has narrow, lobed leaves that resemble a bird’s foot. While it is a cultivar of English Ivy, it has been bred down the line, with less invasiveness. It forms pretty clumps in pots or small spaces in the sun. It is not the most common ivy, but can occasionally be gleaned at boutique shops. 

7. Hedera helix ‘Golden Curl’

Ivy does not need to rely on individual interest or bright blooms for interest, though unusual textures do help. A variegated version of English ivy with crinkly, leaves marked by creamy-yellow margins, Hedera helix ‘Golden Curl’ should be given more lighting than monotone green varieties. Its growth is moderate, and it proves both to be an attractive houseplant and a versatile climber. 

8. Swedish Ivy 

Appearing more like an herb (it is not a true ivy but a member of the mint family), Swedish Ivy is well-suited as a houseplant, featuring scalloped leaves and trailing branches. It thrives in bright, indirect light. The ‘Purple Swedish Ivy’ variety is an attractive version with green foliage and purple undersides. 

9. Hedera pastuchovii ‘Ann Ala’

Collected by Roy Lancaster in the Caspian Forest and named after his guide, this unusual ivy stands out with its dark, dagger-shaped foliage, veined with silver. A vigorous grower, it has potential snaking through wrought-iron structures and other gothic emblems. 

10. Ivy Golden Ingot

Ivy Golden Ingot, botanically known as Hedera helix 'Golden Ingot', also called Hedera helix 'Saint Agnes', is a quaint cultivar that can bestow your windowsill with a little extra warmth. It showcases leaves stippled a soft yellow that become more pronounced with sun, dimming to a creamy tone in the winter. 

Ivies to Avoid

Poison Ivy  

Although it can seemingly masquerade as an ivy, poison ivy is not a real ivy – the epitome of “he doesn’t even go there.” It is widely detested for its toxins, which can impart a spate of itchy rashes. Identification can be made through its trio of leaflets, with the central leaflet featuring a longer stalk. 

English Ivy

Out of the ivies, English ivy is considered a problematic species and is generally avoided. Left alone, it can form dense 'ivy deserts' that strangles native vegetation. It is better to find a look-like that will accomplish much of the same without threatening you or your neighbor’s yard.