Hedera hibernica 'Digitata' - Irish Ivy

Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’ – Irish Ivy

Ivy with small leaves generally composed of 5 lobes, often different, some of which are digitate, hence its name.

Slow growing, short stems.

Nice coloring in winter in dry and cold weather.

From £8.90

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9cm pot 1L pot 4L pot

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Category Ivy

Description

Irish ivy – Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’

In a nutshell

Irish ivy, Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’, is an ivy with small leaves, generally composed of 5 lobes.

They are often different, some are digitate, hence its name. This variety has a relatively slow growth. Its stems remain rather short compared to the type.

This ivy can take on pretty colors in winter in dry and cold weather.

History

This cultivar name appeared as early as 1826 in the catalog of Conrad Loddiges & Sons Nursery, London, UK. It was discovered in the wild near an old nursery in Ireland by Mr. Hodgens and Dr. Mackay. It was initially thought to be a cultivar of Hedera helix, but chromosome analysis by Hugh McAllister proved that it was tetraploid, and therefore related to Hedera hibernica.

At the same time, another cultivar named ‘Rottingdean’ was introduced by G. Jackman & Sons, nurserymen in Woking, Surrey, UK in 1964. It had been discovered near Brighton. It later transpired that this cultivar actually matched the description of ‘Digitata’.

Finally, according to Hugh McAllister, the cultivar now sold in nurseries as ‘Digitata’ is in fact ‘Digitata Nova’ (Source: Hedera, The complete Guide). Without settling the debate, we’ll simply point out that the latter is a Hedera helix, whereas ‘Digitata’ is a Hedera hibernica.

Technical leaflet - Hedera hibernica 'Digitata'

Botanical information

Family: Araliaceae
Genus : Hedera
Species: hibernica
Cultivar : ‘Digitata’
Pierot classification: ivy type
Foliage stage: juvenile
Origin: Europe, on the Atlantic coast from Portugal to Scotland
Origin of cultivar: found near an old nursery in Ireland by Mr Hodgens and Dr Mackay.

Description of Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’

Growth habit: spreading
Number of lobes: usually 5 lobes
Leaf length: 5 to 6 cm
Sheet width: 6 to 7 cm
Leaf color: dark green
Color variations: attractive winter colors in dry, cold weather
Leaf shape: some leaves are digitized
Color of veins: green
Internodes: 3 to 5 cm
Stem and petiole color: pinkish brown
Hair: stellate, small

Advice on planting, cultivation and care of Hedera hibernica ‘Digitata’.

Exposure: shade, part shade, sun
Hardiness: -20°C
Soil moisture: cool soil
Soil PH: neutral, calcareous or acidic
Soil type: all
Soil richness: ordinary or humus-bearing
Use: climbing
Development: moderate
Pruning: once a year
Pests: very rare (red spider mites, scale insects)
Diseases: very rare (leaf spots)

A page from my little ivy encyclopedia

A question of circumstance...

What is tetraploid ivy?

Plants usually have two sets of similar chromosomes in their cells. These are known as diploids. This is the case of Hedera helix. But some species have more sets of chromosomes. For example, Hedera hibernica has 4 sets of similar chromosomes. In this case, it is said to be tetraploid.

Ivy in literature

“The garden, overgrown with ivy, exuded a melancholy that no one could erase.”

Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

Additional information

Weight	N/A
Stock 9cm and 1L pots	3 to 5 pots
Stock containers of 2 or 4L	3 to 5 containers
Stock big articles	0 big article
Shape	Spread out
Appearance of foliage	Atypical, Green, Red in winter
Possible uses	Climbing
Exposure	Partial shade, Shade, Sun
Hardiness	Very good hardiness
Ease of cultivation	Easy
Development speed	Medium
Development vigor	Medium
Classification according to the Pierot system	Ivy ivy
Award	No known award