Hedera helix (common ivy, "Seiyokizuta")

Japanese name: セイヨウキヅタ （西洋木蔦）
Scientific name: Hedera helix

[Overview]
An evergreen woody climber.
It sends out many aerial roots from the trunk and climbs trees, cliffs, walls and the like, reaching a height of 20–30 m.
The leaves are simple and alternate, 5–10 cm long, usually 3–5-lobed, thick, and glossy on the upper surface.
The leaf veins are cream-colored.
The leaf margin is usually entire.
The leaves on young branches may differ in shape from those on flowering branches.
The leaf stalk is 1.5–2 cm.
Umbels 3–5 cm in diameter extend from the branch tips and bear many small yellowish-brown flowers with 5 petals.
The fruit is a spherical drupe 6–8 mm in diameter, ripening black.
There are many variegated cultivars.

[History]
It was held sacred in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, and in Christianity it was used in funerals in the past as a symbol of eternal life.
Also, as Christmas ivy, it was hung on doorways at Christmas.
It came to Japan at the end of the Meiji period.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
For cuttings, in March–April or September–October, cut stems with 2–3 nodes.
They root easily when placed in soil or water.
Propagation from seed is also possible, but the germination rate is poor, germination takes 2 years, and growth takes many more years.
It prefers partial shade and slightly moist, well-drained, water-retentive, airy soil.
The ideal soil acidity is pH 6.5.
In strong summer sun, variegated cultivars suffer leaf scorch, but if the light is too poor, the variegation develops poorly.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, watering is unnecessary unless sunny weather continues and the soil dries out.
Base fertilizer alone is sufficient.
Pests and diseases include sooty mold, anthracnose, aphids, and scale insects.

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