Questions & Answers

ANIMALS AND IVY

Is it Poisonous?

QUESTION
Are ivy plants toxic to cats? Please let me know ASAP because I received a beautiful plant with an ivy circle and I need to know what to do.

ANSWER
There is no scientific information documenting that ivies are toxic to pets. Ivies do have tiny hairs on the underside of the leaves that sometimes causes skin irritation to people but that is usually only minor.

However, several of us ivy growers have cats many cats and none of us have ever had any problems. The cat would have to eat a large amount of ivy to make it sick. In my experience (and I have two cats here at my ivy nursery) they bite the leaves or play with the runners but never really eat the leaves. My cat at home plays with the ivy around the house and often bites the stems and leaves and she is fine. Another person very much involved with AIS has many cats on her farm and tons of ivy growing everywhere and she has never experienced any troubles.

Unless your cat is abnormally attracted to ivy and eats several leaves, do not worry. Enjoy your beautiful ivy gift.

Editorial notes:
Ivy will sometimes be listed as poisonous or toxic, because it may cause irritation in a few sensitive individuals. If someone eats a lot, then it may cause a stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, and MAY only be severe in babies. But in the Cornell Poisonous Plant Informational database; ivy is not listed as a problem for all including humans, babies, cats, or livestock, iguanas, etc.

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html.

This is a growing reference that includes plant images, pictures of affected animals and presentations concerning the botany, chemistry, toxicology, diagnosis and prevention of poisoning of animals by plants and other natural flora (fungi, etc.). Click on: Search Poisonous Plants database by name, species affected, primary poison, etc., and then enter Hedera under Scientific name, and under species affected, select all, or a specific animal (cats). No listings of problems with Hedera come up.

The problem with determining toxicity, is that once someone writes an article about a person getting a bad reaction, this reaction then appears to be copied in compendiums of poisonous plants.

A local vet reports that she has a small practice, and doesn't recall any cases of plant poisoning. She faxed a sheet of very toxic plants and their effects, Common Poisonous Plants; with bleeding heart, foxgloves, larkspur, daffodils, star-of Bethlehem, lily-of-the-valley, etc. and the List of Potentially Hazardous Plants, which, like other compendiums, have "ivy" on it. The disclaimer is, "potentially hazardous" but no actual citings or accounts are recorded.

Rats and Snakes in Ivy

QUESTION
I live in a rural area in northern Maryland. I am currently researching ground covers for a hill in my yard. The hill is fairly large...12-15 feet high, 80-100 feet long. The hill gets plenty of water from drainage and has plenty of sun exposure. It also connects to a farm pasture used for hay and is located close to my house. I want a rapid growing ground cover that will cover the hill in a short period of time (it is only dirt at this time-no grass or trees). I am thinking about using an ivy that stays green year round, however, my concern is the pests that the ivy will draw. Is it true that ivy draws mice, rats and snakes. Does ivy draw any other pests? I have two young children who play near this hill and have concern over these pests. If ivy isn't the answer, what other ground covers can I choose from?

ANSWER
It is not true that "ivy" draws mice, rats and snakes -- however -- all these critters and many more seek shelter in dense ground cover. There is nothing specifically that would encourage these animals to come to ivy instead other ground covers. In populated areas the landscape ground cover is about the only place left for these critters to find shelter and safety. Choose ivy that grows close to the ground in a matting habit such as 'Tomboy', 'Spetchley' or one of the miniature cultivars. Unfortunately, these ivies will be the slowest growers take the longest to cover the area. Members of AIS have had great success by mowing their ivies every couple of years. You can plant a faster growing cultivar such as 'Walthamensis' or 'Tanya' and control the height by mowing. Mow early spring and set the blades as high as possible to avoid mdestroying all the ivy. Cutting it back in early spring will only encourage fresh new growth and you can keep your ivy from becoming too deep and attracting wildlife.

THE MUSKRATS ATE IT.

QUESTION
Help! My thorndale ivy which was growing on a slope for 3 or 4 years has now all but disappeared. My neighbor (the side of my yard where the ivy was growing) said that muskrats ate it. The muskrats were there the last 3 years why all of a sudden would they find it tasty this year? My gut feeling is that it was yanked out by a neighbor and I'm heartbroken. Can you settle this?
Heartbroken

ANSWER
I am sorry to hear about your Thorndale ivy. Unfortunately, I can not give you a definitive answer to your question. I have never heard of Muskrats eating ivy-actually I do not have any idea what they eat. Are they vegetarians? Muskrats live in marshy areas and build their homes in mud. Do you live at the edge of a marsh? Has the ivy bed become soggy wet? If over the past three years the area has become wet and soggy-this could also effect the ivy roots. Over time they would rot out and die. Also, if you had a particularly harsh and cold winter-the ivy may have been effected.

Perhaps other animals are eating the ivy. Deer can do tremendous damage in only one year but most other animals only nibble here and there. Both deer and rabbits graze off the surface foliage but do not eat the roots. The ivy would come back from the roots. Gophers can eat a plant from below the ground surface. They tunnel under the garden, find a choice plant and pull it down into their tunnel. They can steal and consume serval large plants in one night. Gophers and Muskrats do not live in the same location but may have similar dining habits-I am not sure.

I do want to say that if someone was pulling out well established ivy-you would probably see new shoots trying to come up again. On the other hand, if the ivy was treated with a contact herbicide-you would see it go brown and die all of a sudden.

I hope my comments are helpful in your investigation. Please do get back to us if you have more clues that might help solve the mystery.

ARE MICE LIVING IN MY IVY?

QUESTION

I have a question regarding mice. Is it true that mice like to live in the Ivy? We, are having lots of mice that my cat is catching in the Ivy. My neighbor said that mice like to live in the ivy.

ANSWER

Actually, the truth is that mice and small animals are attracted to any ground cover or shrubby area that can offer them shade, cover and protection. They are not specifically attracted to ivy for any reason. If you removed the ivy and planted other low growing plants that offered the same benefits they would use it as well. It sounds to me like your cat is enjoying the ivy and keeping things under control.

ODDS & ENDS

Do Ivies Revert?

QUESTION
I was reading a brief about your verification program and noted a statement about cultivars reverting. Could you explain this in more detail. Do ivy cultivars revert back to their parents or any of their ancestors? Does this happen very often. And have you found that this only happens with the ivy species? Or is this possible with perennials, shrubs, trees, etc.

ANSWER
Ivy Hedera helix has the unique ability to mutate. All plants can do this, but it just seems ivy tends to do it at a much faster rate.

You can have a green ivy, that sends out a variegated branch, or differently shaped leaves, curly or an assortment combinations. It is also possible that the ivy can revert back to a more original form. You could have a variegated ivy sending out a green runner or a curly ivy that sends out a flat green ivy. These more original forms should be removed so as not to loose the newer ivy characteristics.

Today, most ivies are propagated from cuttings, and not seeds. When taking a cutting, the new bud that grows from the cutting could have a mutation in it. If care is taken when a new sport is found you could have a new ivy.

Ivy also has two different forms, juvenile, and adult. The juvenile is the form you normally see with the runners that climb. The adult form is a stiff upright growth that will become a shrub, and has the ability to flower and bear fruit. For the most part, if the seeds are taken from even more modern cultivars the seedlings that come from the fruit usually are more like the ancestors than the parents, but with seedlings anything is possible.

All plants have the ability to mutate, although most new plants come from breeding programs. Two plants from the same or close species are cross pollinated. The seed from these crosses can produce new plants. Many plants which are propagated from cuttings could mutate. There are many different plants that have been found this way.

The majority of all the modern cultivars of ivy in the United States can be traced back to one cultivar. This cultivar is Hedera helix 'Pittsburgh'. It was discovered in the 1920's, at a nursery in Pennsylvania. This was the first of the self-branching ivies. These are ivies that branch out at almost every node. The wild types of ivy to not branch as freely.

Old Shamrock Bonsai

QUESTION
I have a 30-year old Shamrock bonsai which is growing very well on the whole. I have had several sports (Fallen Angel) over the years, but now there is something else going on. On two twigs, not really branches, very different leaves have sprouted and they stay there but don't seem to grow. These leaves are tiny, obovate, no more than 1/2" long and 14" wide and they seem to form a rosette. I am worried that they may be adult leaves and that my bonsai may be destroyed by more and more branches turning into whatever it is. Can you help me?

(This message was directed on to Russell Windle, Director of Research at AIS for technical information)

ANSWER
Your message was forwarded to me, and I hope I can help you. There are other sports that have been found and named from Shamrock. One is named 'Kobold', which does have small unlobed leaves.

There is a fasciated sport from 'Shamrock', called 'Emerald Globe', which does have stiff up-right growth, with Shamrock- like leaves, but you can also get some un-lobed leaves from this sport.

Ivy is a unique plant as it can mutate very easily. I have also noticed on older plants, when they are cut back, and older wood is forced to re-grow, you will sometime get a higher percentage of mutations, as the new growth is from older dormant buds.

If your plant is going adult, you should see flower bud forming late in the fall, or early spring. Ivy flowers are initiated with short day length. In the greenhouse we get flower development in the Fall and Spring.

If this new growth is only on one stem, and it doesn't seem to be growing, Don't be overly concerned. If this growth can be removed without disfiguring your bonsai, just remove it. You may want to try to root it, and grow it on to see if it is something different. You may have a new and different sport.

Would it be possible to see a photograph of your bonsai, along with this new growth? I may be able to give you a more definitive answer by seeing a photograph.

Ivy for Flower Arranging

QUESTION
How do you preserve English Ivy from wilt in arrangements?

ANSWER
Traditionally, when florists and ivy growers want to condition ivy for arrangements they do the following things.

1) avoid too much new growth as it tends to be very tender and wilts quickly

2) submerge the entire ivy runner in cool water for about 15-20 minutes to allow it to soak up as much water as possible.

3) cut the ivy the day before, submerge and then store in a bucket of cool water

4) make fresh cuts when using in arrangements

Since I am not a florist, I am not aware of any other special tricks but I have never had a hard time keeping cut ivy looking fresh in an arrangement using floral foam.

Another AIS member replied:

I've never had much trouble either but there is a product which might be of use that I have had remarkable results with. It's called "Cloud Cover" and is an anti-transpirant. I would apply it prior to cutting, then leave the product, which goes on looking milky, to dry. Once dry an added benefit is it makes the leaves look as nice as if applying leaf shine. I would also guess you could apply it to already cut stems as long as they were fully turgid when it's applied. If receiving cut stems in the mail I would first soak them by covering in water; not just the cut ends. Then allow excess water to dry,
then spray, dry, and get back in water by re-cutting stems, etc.

"Cloud Cover" comes pre-mixed or in concentrate. I was using it on foliage before ripping up the roots and transplanting bonsai. Most plants never lookedback, no shock, no dumping foliage. It should certainly extend the life of cut ivy stems.

Julie - Signature Botanica

Editors Note: AIS can not endorse, recommend, or be held liable for any brand named products mentioned in our publications.

Removing Ivy Tracks

QUESTION

I have recently removed ivy that was growing on a stucco garden wall. There are brown “tracks” on the wall where the ivy attached itself to the wall? What is the easiest method of removing the “tracks”, which seem to be impervious to water and simple scrubbing with a brush.

ANSWER

I wish there was an easy way to remove those leftover aerial roots but so far we have not found it. One member reported having success with a high-pressure washer. I would caution that you might test it a little before blasting your stucco particularly if it is on an older house. I am sorry that we are not more helpful.

Will it grow downward?

QUESTION

We live in Northwest Pennsylvania on the bank of a creek that flows into Lake Erie. We have recently built a retaining wall about 5 feet high above the water level, and would like to plant Ivy at the top of the wall if it would grow over the cap and down the wall.

My first question is, will ivy grow downward? The second question is about the wall itself. It is neither of masonry or wood construction, but a stack of hollow blocks made from a polymer poured full of concrete. Will Ivy cling to materials of this kind?

As you know, the winters here can be unpleasant and long at times. The wall faces east and has a moderate amount of sunshine, so any advice you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks for your assistance.

ANSWER

Almost all the ivies will trail down the wall. If there is nothing for the ivy to grow up, it will all go down. Since it is hanging down the ivy will not cling to the surface of the wall. If it were trying to climb the wall it would produce aerial roots to help it cling to the surface. From the description of your building materials I could almost guarantee it would cling to the blocks but you need not worry about it if you are only planting from the top.

Green ivy is generally hardier than variegated varieties. Some of the hardier varieties are ‘Walthamensis’, ‘Ritterkreuz’, ‘Rochester’, and ‘Dragon Claw’ but there are several that would be happy in your location.

It would be best to plant it in early spring to give it more of a chance to establish roots before the winter sets in. Also, in most places in the country we are having a real heat wave and it is hard on newly planted plants. If you plant the ivy when your area is experiencing severe heat, be sure to give it lots of TLC, keeping it watered regularly. In the late fall you should mulch in the new plants to help protect the roots this winter. Plant the largest plants you can find with nice big root balls. This will also give the plant a much better chance of getting established.

It is also important to keep the new plants watered during the winter. Often times, they dry out from the harsh winds and because they are newly planted the roots are limited and water is not available. Another precaution for this year would be to cover the new plants with a landscape cloth to help the ivy through the first winter. Generally, if the ivy can make it through the first two or three winters it is going to make it!

We say, “ The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps.” If you can help it through the first few winters it will be there forever.