Hedera helix Kappeln - Common ivy

Hedera helix 'Kappeln' is a hardy and vigorous ornamental ivy characterised by its evergreen leaves often composed of a single elongated lobe. Little branched, it has unusual, airy vegetation of fine texture. An excellent climbing plant, it can cling to all supports or run on the ground to form an elegant ground cover. It thrives in deep soils but shows resistance to drought once established.

Ivies belong to the araliaceae family, they are cousins of Ginseng and fatsias. Hedera helix 'Kappeln' comes from the common ivy, found everywhere in forests, countryside, and gardens and native to the entire temperate Eurasian zone of the northern hemisphere. Ivy stems attach themselves to supports using powerful climbing roots. This plant has given many cultivars of varying sizes, with diversified foliage, some capable of flowering and fruiting once mature. The foliage borne by the stems that will flower, located higher on the plant, is different from the foliage borne by the juvenile stems. The ivy's greenish flowering, in the form of globular inflorescences, is an excellent nectar source for bees. It is followed by black-blue berries, toxic to humans but an excellent winter food source for birds.

The common ivy 'Kappeln' is not a recent cultivar, but it stands out for its robust character and vigorous growth. This climbing plant can grow up to 1.50 m per year. Eventually, its stems can reach 4 m in length. The plant has a sparsely branched habit with long vigorous shoots. Its leaves are dull dark green, lanceolate in shape with a rounded tip. They generally have a terminal lobe, which is 3 to 5 times longer than the lateral lobes, particularly visible on older leaves. The petioles attaching them to the stem are short and green. Hedera helix 'Kappeln' does not produce particularly ornamental flowers, but its evergreen foliage and climbing habit more than compensate for this absence. In winter, it forms a pleasant plant decoration even during the coldest months. Its bark is thin and insignificant, all the beauty is in its leaves.

This common ivy 'Kappeln' can be used as a climber in a tree or on a wall, but it will also be an excellent ground cover in undergrowth, or in a semi-shady bed, or trailing at the top of a low wall. Growing in a large pot is possible, taking care to monitor watering. The elegance of its finely lobed leaves makes it an interesting choice for a scene that is both wild and refined.

To create harmonious compositions, Hedera helix 'Kappeln' can be combined with Fatsia japonica, Mahonia aquifolium, a honeysuckle like Lonicera japonica 'Mint Crisp', and periwinkles. These plants appreciate shaded to semi-shaded areas and well-drained soils. Together, they can form attractive combinations, varied in textures and shapes, while requiring little maintenance.

Let's dispel some misconceptions: ivy, contrary to general belief, does not harm trees (it simply uses them as support). It may be that an old tree covered with ivy falls, but it is often the weight of the plant that bends an already decaying trunk. Furthermore, it will damage a wall only if the plaster is already degraded and cracked. There is therefore no risk in letting it climb a healthy wall. With its ecological usefulness, it would be a shame not to grow it!