Hedera helix 'Patrick' is a vigorous evergreen English ivy cultivar distinguished by its deeply lobed glossy green leaves with a subtle bluish cast. Excellent as a dense ground cover or climbing vine it clings readily to walls, fences, and tree trunks providing lush year round foliage and erosion control in shaded areas.
Height & Spread: 6 - 12 in x 24 - 48 in (as ground cover); climbing to 20 - 30 ft with support
Bloom Time: Rarely flowers in cultivated form
Light Requirements: Full shade to part sun
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soils; adaptable to various soil types
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Generally deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from the European species Hedera helix. It is not native to North America and can be invasive in some regions.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- When mature, ivy produces berries that are eaten by songbirds such as robins, starlings, and cedar waxwings.
- The dense foliage provides nesting cover for small birds and overwintering habitat for insects.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart for quick coverage as a ground cover, or plant near structures for vertical growth.
Landscape Placement
- Effective for erosion control on shaded slopes, beneath trees, or as a climber on stone or brick walls. Useful in formal and informal gardens alike.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum odoratum (Variegated Solomons Seal) - Arches elegantly over ivy mats in partial shade settings.
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Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger) - Provides a soft texture and low profile in shade beneath taller ivy plantings.
- Epimedium x rubrum - Adds early spring color and subtle texture at the edge of ivy plantings.
- Ferns (Dryopteris) - Add contrast in leaf form and thrive under similar moisture and light conditions.
- Hosta 'Patriot' - Offers bold foliage contrast and variegation under trees or in woodland borders.