Boston Ivy

An Ivy-covered facade on a home instantly boosts its curb appeal big time! Turning any brickwork or stone from 'ho hum' to traditionally inspired, old-world 'wow' factor! There's a reason it's called 'Ivy League' you know.

Most of those iconic, old-world buildings are covered in Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') which is a very hardy flowering plant in the grape family. Native to eastern Asia in Korea, Japan, and northern and eastern China. Unrelated to the true Ivies, Boston Ivy is also commonly known as Grape Ivy, Japanese ivy, and Japanese Creeper, and by the common name Woodbine.

Boston Ivy is a remarkably fast-growing, deciduous woody vine that sends out tendrils that can grip onto surfaces. The glossy dark green leaves may be reminiscent of grapevines, and that is because they are in the same vine family! Not to be confused with Virginia Creeper, Boston Ivy is not as difficult to remove once attached.

Attractive against almost any background, softening edges and bathing entire surfaces in greenery! In the fall your Ivy will turn a deep scarlet in preparation for the coming winter, and in more sun-exposed areas, the fall color becomes an even deeper red.

Your Boston Ivy also has some hidden features that most people aren't aware of. Incredibly tiny off-white flowers appear in the spring and your vines will be buzzing with pollinators! By early summer small black berries soon develop afterward.

Most people won't notice either, but you will note the birds that come to sit in your ivy and partake of the feast you've provided them. Birds often use this dense vine for nesting as well!

It's no wonder this amazing vine won the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit!

How to Use Boston Ivy In The Landscape

If you have a place you'd like covered in lovely green vegetation by a plant that is carefree and tolerant of just about any conditions, then this plant is for you! Boston Ivy does well on houses, trellis' or even on the trunks of large trees, and the vine will even trail along the garden floor as a groundcover if you prefer!

Imagine planting a Boston Ivy along an old shed or garage, or rambling over an ugly wall to soften the edges of retaining walls, or winding through a chainlink fence for lush privacy! In no time at all, you'll have a vibrant green, living wall where old paint, crumbling rock, or a neighborly eyesore used to be. They also add an amazing designer touch to your landscape with no work from yourself.

Plant an Ivy at the base of your mailbox and with a little easy pruning, you'll soon have a work of art that's the envy of your neighbors. Not just working outdoors, Boston Ivy works as in indoor plant groundcover and trailing houseplant, or around your patio and balcony for some summer shade in planters and containers.

The benefit from cloaking your home in leafy coolness during the summer months is impressive insulation and shade against those sun-baked western and southern-facing walls. Then, in winter, its bare black vines allow the sunlight through to warm up your exterior walls.

Quickly reaching near full size in five or more years, at which point the climber's vines may already be 30 feet high! Using adhesive disks, which resemble gecko's toes, stick on top of mortar instead of digging into cracks and causing damage!

#ProPlantTips For Care

Growing Boston Ivy is oh-so-easy! Once established, there is barely any work for yourself at all!

Autumn color is guaranteed whether planted in full sun, partial, or full shade, your Boston Ivy will look amazing regardless of the amount of sun!

Boston Ivy doesn't have too much in the way of soil type preferences; tolerating acid or alkaline, chalk or clay. All it needs is consistent moisture access while establishing that first year. Afterward, provide average moist and well-drained soils. Once established, these are even drought tolerant.

Boston Ivy benefits from being tied at first but ultimately it is self-clinging and hangs onto its surface through storms and wind. It can cover almost any surface quickly and with ease, and even adapts readily to pruning. As with all vines and climbing plants, keep away from gutters and roofs.

A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill.

The Boston Ivy is truly an amazing plant. Grow it inside or outside, on flat surfaces or upright on a wall. You can't go wrong with a Boston Ivy! Order some today from Nature Hills Nursery for superb curb-appeal tomorrow!