Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'

The Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' is a vigorous, hardy Colchis Ivy, known for its particularly decorative, abundant, and covering evergreen foliage, composed of large leaves variegated with pale yellow in the centre on a background of graduated green. Like the ivy in our gardens, this ivy climbs or crawls, clinging to all supports to form a superb vegetal wall or an astonishing ground cover. Its late summer flowering, while not spectacular, is abundant and greatly appreciated by bees.

The 'Sulphur Heart' Colchis Ivy is a horticultural selection of unknown origin, named in 1968. The botanical species Hedera colchica is native to the Near and Middle East. It can be found from the Turkish coast of the Black Sea to Asia Minor (Afghanistan, Persian Gulf, some islands in the Red Sea). It is a plant of forested areas benefiting from humid microclimates, where mists are frequent, such as along rivers. This climbing plant, with rather slow growth, can reach a height of 30 meters (98 feet) in the wild, climbing cliffs and large trees. If it does not find a vertical support, it will spread on the ground. This plant clings to its support through aerial roots transformed into small climbing roots. There are specimens over 400 years old. Ivies belong to the araliaceae family, they are cousins of Ginseng and fatsias.

In our gardens, the 'Sulphur Heart' Colchis ivy will easily cover an area of 5 to 6 m². The plant forms long, flexible branches, 5 to 8 mm (0in) thick, which lignify with age. They bear pale green leaves variegated with dark green, widely maculated with pale yellow in the centre. Their appearance varies depending on the age and position of the branch that bears them. The leaves located at the base of the ivy are very wide and divided into 3 shallow lobes. The leaves located in the middle part of the plant, majority, very large, measuring up to 20 cm (8in) long, have a heart shape and a barely dentate edge. Finally, the leaves located on the elevated stems, in the light, are smaller and elongated. These aerial stems bear flowers in late summer. The flowers, greenish in colour, are discreet, but gathered in large globular clusters. They are very rich in nectar and feed numerous insects and small animals. After pollination, the flowers produce small black berries that birds love. The birds spread the seeds around.

The 'Sulphur Heart' Colchis ivy undoubtedly beautifies everything it touches, in moist soil, and elegantly covers everything it needs to hide, including unsightly constructions or withered conifers in a hedge. In this use, it will be supported by evergreen shrubs such as Laurestinus, Elaeagnus ebbingei, or a climbing hydrangea, in the shade. This ivy effectively and perfectly covers the ground, and eventually discourages weeds. Spring-flowering bulbs such as botanical daffodils or muscari can be planted, emerging from the green carpet in spring. Hedera colchica is an excellent wall cover, but be cautious as this plant can quickly become invasive. Depsite its reputation as a demolisher, it has protected more old dilapidated walls than it has destroyed;  removal of this plant when it is firmly rooted in the crevices can cause the masonry to collapse, while the plant maintains its integrity. The use of this plant on facades should be avoided.