Variegated Ivy

Variegated Ivy 'White Diamond' (Hedera helix 'White Diamond') is the fastest way to cover a bare wall, bank or fence with something that looks deliberate. It climbs or spreads to about 3m by 2m, and the cream and grey green leaves lift a shaded corner where plain green foliage disappears. It grows in poor soil, takes frost, wind and dry spells, and asks for very little once it is away.

Why you'll love it

• Bright foliage for dark places. The cream variegation reads from a distance, so a shaded courtyard wall stops looking like a dead zone.
• Fast, dense cover. It fills a slope or a fence quickly, which is why it is a standard fix for erosion prone banks and awkward embankments.
• Genuinely undemanding. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and unbothered by poor soil, so it copes with the leftover corners of a garden.
• It works in a pot too. Trailing over the edge of a container or a balcony rail gives you the same effect in a controlled space.

Where it works best

Groundcover and slopes. Plant 50cm apart for quick groundcover. On a bank the stems root as they run, which knits the surface together and holds soil during heavy rain.

Screening a fence or wall. It climbs by aerial roots, so it scales a masonry wall or wire panel unaided. Keep it off mortar joints, painted render and timber cladding, where those roots cause real damage.

Pots and retaining walls. A container or the top of a retaining wall suits it well, and a pot is the simplest way to enjoy the plant without managing its spread.

Growing variegated ivy in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to full shade brings out the best variegation. Harsh afternoon sun bleaches and crisps the pale sections. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, which covers the southern half of the country and the cooler tablelands.

Soil. Almost anything with drainage. Poor, rocky or compacted soil is fine, though a little compost through the backfill speeds establishment. Mulch 50mm deep.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry weather. A light complete fertiliser in early spring is plenty, and overfeeding just produces growth you will have to cut back.

Pruning. Trim whenever it reaches the boundary you have set, any time from spring to autumn. Cutting hard is not a problem, and an annual tidy keeps it dense rather than ropey and bare at the centre.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock. Plants arrive young, usually a single trailing stem, which is the sensible way to buy a groundcover: at 50cm spacing you need a lot of them, and ivy establishes so readily that larger stock buys you very little time. Expect running growth within one warm season.

Tubes travel well and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Two honest cautions. Ivy can escape into bushland from garden plantings, so keep it contained and never dump clippings in a reserve. The leaves and sap are also toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when you prune.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse climbers and groundcovers
• What every gardener should know about variegated plants
• Softening fences and retaining walls with planting
• Plants for full shade

Common questions

How many plants do I need to cover a bank?

At 50cm spacing, roughly four plants per square metre. That closes over within a season or two in a shaded, reasonably watered position.

Will it damage my wall?

On sound rendered or masonry surfaces it is usually fine, but the aerial roots work into soft mortar, flaking paint and timber cladding. Give it wire or a trellis held clear of the surface instead.

Can I grow it indoors?

It will live indoors in a bright spot, though it needs cooler conditions and good airflow to stay healthy. Outdoors in shade is where it genuinely performs.