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Trailing ivy in a planter

puschkiniapuschkinia Posts: 229
in Plants
Hi

I've got a tall fence panel that's west-facing but that's pretty much permanently shaded by my house. I love ivy (both for its looks and its wildlife value), but this isn't my fence to destroy; it's my neighbours.

I was thinking of hanging a balcony planter to the top of the fence and growing a compact, slower-growing ivy to trail down. I think this'll have minimal wildlife value - I'm guessing the more ornamental forms don't get to the mature fruiting stage? Just in case I'm growing a shrub ivy at the fence base :)

I'm wondering whether a compact ivy will be obedient and trail, vs just climbing upwards into my neighbours garden - does anyone know, or can anyone recommend a suitable cultivar? 

Thanks!

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    If by "more ornamental" you mean the variegated ivies, I can assure you that some at least will flower and form berries.  I'm thinking of "Gloire de Marengo" in particular as I have grown this.  It is a large leafed plant tho so unfortunately not  suitable for the sort of thing you have in mind.
    There are other small leaf variegated ones and they will, to a certain extent, trail ( basically if they have no chance of creeping/climbing up, they will hang down ) but whether or not they will mature enough when confined to trough/basket to flower, I don't know.
    I'd guess that there are specialist Ivy growers/Nuseries somewhere which could give you a pointer :)
  • puschkiniapuschkinia Posts: 229
    Thanks @philippasmith2 :) Interesting, so if it's planted in the ground does Gloire de Marengo fruit and flower straight away, or does it first need to run out of climbing space and mature like hedera helix? If it fruits & flowers quickly I'd be so tempted to find another place to grow it!

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Sadly, the short answer is No - IME , it acts just the same as other Ivies in that the plant itself needs to be well established and reach the stage when it becomes  old enough to flower.
    Makes a lovely "screen" but not a quick fix I'm afraid. 
    Perhaps if you began a new thread describing your site and size of trough/hanger, you may find people will be able to offer you some good alternatives and give you food for thought :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've had G de Marengo for around five or six years here, and it's never come anywhere near to being arboreal. It suffers in winter here though, as it isn't quite as hardy as some others. Gets frost damaged.
    Some of the smaller leaved varieties might do, but you'd need to make sure they were well watered if they're in containers. I doubt a single container would be enough coverage for a full panel though. You'd need something for half way down, or a container on the ground with something planted in it.
    Euonymous or similar would provide a suitable bottom layer, but they would tend to grow up the fence unless you had a separate trellis for them. Plenty of smaller shrubs would be fine though, with the right care.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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