Hedera helix 'Cavendishii'

English ivy, Hedera helix, has many uses all round the garden. It can be used to cover shady walls and trained to climb up or spread out along a low wall. Being evergreen, Hedera helix is perfect for covering pergola poles, or creating a leafy backdrop beneath clematis and climbing roses.

Hedera helix 'Cavendishii' is a slow-growing ivy, bearing medium-sized green leaves with creamy margins, that are less distinctly lobed than the uncultivated species. Hedera helix 'Cavendishii' is ideal for brightening up a shady corner, grown in the ground or in a large container, in full sun or partial shade.

Use young plants to spill around the outsides of containers and winter hanging baskets. Hedera helix can be trimmed into shape at any time of year. It's a valuable wildlife plant, providing a late source of nectar and pollen for insects, and berries for birds in winter. Be careful when handling it if you have sensitive skin as its sap can be an irritant.