Hedera algeriensis ‘Bowles’s Ox Heart’ Adult Ivy

Ivy, in its development, successively goes through 3 stages.

1 – At first, it crawls on the ground and forms adventitious roots that allow it to crawl further and further, thus forming an evergreen carpet. This is the juvenile stage.

2 – when it meets a support, it begins to climb. Instead of adventitious roots, it forms crampons that allow it to climb ever higher. This is the semi-adult stage.

3 – when it sees enough light, it then enters its third stage, called the adult stage . It now produces horizontal branches, a bit like a shrub. In autumn, it flowers in the form of greenish umbels that are very popular with pollinating or foraging insects. These flowers give rise to berries that will very gradually mature during the winter and feed the birds.

Adult ivy is therefore very interesting for biodiversity.

By taking cuttings from parts of an ivy corresponding to the adult stage, we obtain adult ivy of the shrub type.