Ivy, a late developer

One of the last plants to flower in October and November is Ivy. These clusters of blooms provide bees and other insects with a welcome meal of nectar and pollen just before hibernation. Most people only know Ivy in its juvenile phase as a climbing or sprawling plant with glossy hand-cut leaves. The globose umbels of green flowers are born in panicles on adult growth with entire leaves. Most species of Ivy flower once they reach the top of their vertical support, provided there is enough light. In nature the plant climb up trees to get closer to the light with their flowers to increase photosynthesis and reproductive success.

All species of Ivy (Hedera sp.) are difficult to distinguish from one another. This is especially true of flowering ivies. At first glance the panicels of Hedera helix 'Zorgvliet' (shown on the left) differ little from those of Hedera azorica SSF (on the right). The flowers of Hedera algeriensis (middle) are again similar, but have distinctly salmon coloured anthers. The size of each globose umbel is very different though, varying from 3 cm (Common Ivy) to 4,5 cm (Azorian Ivy) and even 6 cm (in Algerian Ivy).