Hedera helix Tango - Hedera helix Kappeln - Common ivy

'Hedera helix 'Tango' is a common bush with a compact, rather upright growth habit, forming a broad cushion. It is characterised by small shiny leaves with wavy and curved edges, somewhat resembling "umbrellas". This variety is perfect for covering the ground with greenery in shaded areas, even in winter. It also looks very pretty in a pot or as a stand-alone plant in a shady border or rockery.

Ivies belong to the Araliaceae family, being cousins of Ginseng and Fatsias. The Hedera genus includes about a dozen species, the most common being Hedera helix. Ivy stems attach themselves to supports using strong climbing roots. This plant has produced numerous cultivars of varying sizes, with diversified foliage, some capable of flowering and fruiting once mature. The foliage carried by the flowering stems, located higher on the plant, is different from the foliage carried by the juvenile stems. Ivy's greenish flowering, in the form of globular inflorescences, is an excellent nectar source for bees. It is followed by black-blue berries, which are toxic to humans but represent an excellent winter food source for birds.

Hedera helix 'Tango' is a variety close to 'Parasol', but with shorter internodes and a more compact habit giving it a stout and branched appearance. The common ivy 'Tango' has a slightly upright, semi-bushy habit. It eventually forms a broad cushion measuring 15 to 30 cm in height. Depending on growing conditions, it can spread over several metres. The rare flowers of this ivy are insignificant and white. Its leaves are generally triangular and measure 4 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are divided into 5 lobes with wavy, curved edges. Their colour is a shiny dark green with light veins. This ivy is resistant to cold and drought, tolerating heavily shaded exposures.

The ornamental ivy 'Tango' is particularly appreciated as a natural ground cover. Its vegetation creates a lush green carpet under trees and shrubs. It can also be grown in pots to decorate shaded terraces or balconies. At the base of trees, it pairs well with Carex morrowii 'Aureovariegata', with long variegated leaves, Epimedium x perralchicum, offering evergreen foliage and delicate flowers, Dryopteris filix-mas (male fern), with elegant texture, and Geranium macrorrhizum, featuring aromatic foliage.