Grape Ivy Ellen Danica (Hanging Basket)

Grape Ivy 'Ellen Danica' (Cissus rhombifolia 'Ellen Danica') is the trailing indoor plant to reach for when you share the house with animals. Stems run to about 1.5m and the plant spreads roughly 1m across, carrying glossy, deeply lobed leaves closer to an oak leaved grapevine than a standard houseplant. It is listed as pet friendly, so it can hang in a room a cat uses.

Why you'll love it

• Not toxic to cats or dogs. That rules it into rooms where devil's ivy and philodendron are a bad idea.
• Fast to fill a basket. A young plant covers the rim and starts trailing within one warm season.
• Comfortable in humid rooms. Bathrooms, kitchens and humid coastal houses suit it, where drier loving plants sulk.
• Forgiving of neglect. It tolerates a missed watering and modest light, which makes it a sensible first hanging plant.

Where it works best

Indoors in a hanging basket. Hang it where the stems clear a shelf or window frame, and turn the basket a quarter each month so growth stays even.

Pots and containers. It also spills over a tall pot, and the tendrils will climb a small trellis if you prefer to train it upwards.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it lives outside year round in a sheltered shaded spot, out of afternoon sun.

Growing grape ivy in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the best leaf size and the tightest habit. Deep shade produces long sparse stems, and unfiltered midday sun scorches the foliage. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid districts bring it indoors over winter.

Soil. Use a quality free draining indoor potting mix in a pot with open drainage holes. Sealed basket liners hold water around the roots and are the most common cause of failure.

Water and feed. Water when the top few centimetres feel dry, then let it drain rather than sit in a saucer. Feed monthly through spring and summer with liquid indoor plant food, and stop over winter.

Pruning. Tip prune any stem that outgrows the space and it branches behind the cut, which keeps the top of the basket full instead of bare.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in tube, 175mm and 200mm packs of six, and a 250mm pack of three. Tubes are young single plants and the cheapest way to fill several baskets, while the larger sizes already carry trailing growth. Three to five plants around the rim fill a basket faster than one in the centre.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect some leaf drop in the first fortnight as it adjusts to your light, then new growth within four to six weeks. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse pet friendly indoor plants
• Indoor plant basics for beginners
• Compare the full indoor plant range

Common questions

Is grape ivy safe around cats and dogs?

Yes, it is classed as pet friendly and is not toxic to cats or dogs. Pets still should not be encouraged to chew it, because any plant material can upset a stomach.

How much light does it need?

Bright indirect light, roughly a metre or two back from an east facing window. It survives in less, but the stems stretch and the leaves shrink, so move it closer to the glass.

Can I grow it as a climber instead?

You can. It produces tendrils and will climb a trellis, moss pole or wire to around 1.5m indoors, which suits a narrow wall better than a basket does.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Usually dry air, fertiliser salts in the mix, or a pot standing in water. Flush the mix every few months and empty the saucer after watering.