Hedera helix Reef Shell - Hedera helix Kappeln - Common ivy

Hedera helix 'Reef Shell' is a small variety of common ivy that stands out for its unique foliage. Its pretty leaves shaped like a "shell" are heavily variegated with green, pale yellow, and cream. Despite its slow growth, this ornamental ivy is very hardy and easy to grow. With its sparsely branched vegetation, it is more often used as a climbing plant, especially in pots. A variety that brings a touch of light and originality to any setting!

Ivies belong to the Araliaceae family, being cousins of Ginseng and fatsias. Hedera helix 'Reef Shell' originates from the common ivy, found everywhere in forests, countryside, and gardens. The latter is native to the entire Eurasian temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. The ivy's stems cling on their own to supports with powerful climbing roots. This plant has produced numerous cultivars of varying sizes, with diverse foliage, some capable of flowering and fruiting once mature. The foliage carried by the flowering stems, located higher on the plant, differs from the foliage carried by the juvenile stems. The ivy's greenish, round inflorescences, are an excellent nectar source for bees. They are followed by the formation of blackish-blue berries, which are toxic to humans but are an excellent winter food source for birds.

Hedera helix 'Reef Shell' is an astonishing sport (or seedling) of the ornamental ivy 'Zebra'. It is a slow-growing climbing plant or creeper with a compact habit. Its stems are brown and sparsely branched, carrying non-lobed, shell-shaped leaves. These leaves measure around 4 to 7 cm and are all variegated with medium green, cream, and pale yellow. No leaf is entirely green. This variety does not produce visible flowers or fruits. The stems' bark is smooth and brown, adding an interesting texture to the plant. Hedera helix 'Reef Shell' can reach a height of 60 to 80 cm and a similar width, but it remains compact and does not spread as much as other ivies. Its beautiful foliage is evergreen in winter.

Hedera helix 'Reef Shell' will most often be used as a climbing plant on trellises or walls, planted in a large pot. It will also make a great impact in a container, from which it will cascade in variegated curtains. Although it does not cover the ground as much as other ivies, it is interesting for dressing the base of woody fuchsias in shaded areas of the garden. To accompany this ivy, consider, for example, Hosta 'Patriot' with its variegated leaves, Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain' for its blue flowers and speckled leaves, 'Heuchera 'Caramel' with its colourful foliage, and Tiarella 'Spring Symphony' with its delicate flowers and attractive foliage.