Srows

IVY is one of the most
widely grown garden
plants on the North
Shore.

It can alse be one of the
most troublesome plants for
being invasive and causing
damage to structures and
the environment.

The common or English
ivy called Hedera helix
beiongs to the araliaceae
family and is one of seven
species of Eurasian and
North African woody vines.

Although English ivy is
found in England, it also
grows as a native plant all
across Europe to the Caucus
Mountains.

The leaves are alternate,
evergreen, lobed or toothed
and the flowers, which occur
only on very mature wood,
are green and inconspicuous.

The mature black seeds,
eaten by birds, are scattered
over wide areas and especial-
ly under roosting trees.

Unlike many vines, ivy
does not have tendrils or a
twining habit that allows it
_to.wrap around trees or sup-
ports.

Instead, it has the ability

Sunday. April 23, 2000 — North Shore News ~ 27

HOME AND GARDEN

ging English ivy can be a pest

to produce aerial roots along
the side of the vine that will
stick to anvthing they touch.

The dglueé or root tissue
that sticks to a tree or struc:
ture is almost impossible to
remove short of grinding
and this is one of the major
problems with growing i

Compounding this prob-
lem, when ivy is growing on
the side of a house or fence
it allows dead leaves, dust
and moisture to accumulate
that in turn creates ret.

At one home I visited,
the owner was shocked
when I pointed out a shoot
of ivy growing into the liv-
ing room under the window
sill.

As the vines increase in
size they can pry off pieces
of siding or split window
casings.

Growing ivy on trees may
look attractive but the long
term results can be disas-
trous.

Trees with a covering of
ivy are more prone to dis-
ease and decay and the ivy
will eventually choke out
tree growth.

If and when the tree dies
there is no way to determine
when the tree will fall.

Tree toppers are very
reluctant to climb dead, ivy-
covered trees both because
of rot and the difficulty of
securing their spurs in the
bark.

Pest control officers point
out that English ivy is both
a source of food and an ideal
hiding place for rats.

Apparently they feed on

new shoots when other
sources of food are unavail-

invironmental and fish-
eries specialists are also
unhappy with the rampant
spread of English ivy
because it overruns and
crowds out native plants and
changes the ecological bal-
ance of creek banks.

Grown in the right place
with proper maintenance,
English ivy can be a useft
ground cover but there are
other forms of ivy that may
do a better job without all
the inherent problems.

Hedera canaricnsis varie-

sata or Algerian ivy is native

to Madeira and the Canary
Isles.

It does form aerial roots
but is not so rampant.

The large yellow or white
variegated leaves reflect light
and may brighten up a dark
corner of the garden.

Hedera colchica dentata
varieqata is similar to H.
canariensis but the leaves are
much larger, reaching 25 cm
(10 in.).

Both plants need more
light than English ivy and
they are better at trailing
than climbing.

There are also a number
of sub species of H. helix
that are good garden plants.

Aborescens is an upright
variety that has no lopes on
its leaves.

It can be useful if
on a frame in the garde

Argenteo-Variegata is
green and white with white
margins and Aureo is green

ned

Over the next decade the Greater Vancouver
Regional District (GVRD) will construct new
water supply and treatment facilities for the
Seymour drinking water source. The projects
will be constructed within the Lower Seymour
‘Conservation Reserve (LSCR), and include:

* a filtration plant

B+ seismic upgrade to the Seymour Falls Dam

© water. mains.

You are invited to an open house to
discuss construction-related issues and
concerns. GVRD staff will provide
information about the projects and

and yellow with white mar-
gins.

Both provide good light
reflection and a contrast in
colour to other green plants.

Baltica has smaller leave:
is hardier and has white
veins that turn purple in
winter.

Gracilis has a small leaf
that turns bronze in winter
and is sometime sold as
Japanese ivy

Glacier is variegated with
grey green and pink and
white margins.

Minima is also grey green
but has wavy margins.

Conglomerata ts a slow

growing ivy that creeps but
does not want to climb.
Unfortunately, it dees
not seem to be sold com-
mercially i in our area.
ata has a small heart
d leat.
addition to th
and sub-sp
forms with names such as
“Buttercup” and
“Goldhear
Maybe it is time to rein
in your English ivy and
replace it with a more
acceptable variety or planta
more attractive and less ram-
pant vine of ground cover.

5% OFF
SALE -

respond to your questions or concerns.

- The Seymour water utility projects are needed
to meet the drinking water needs of Greater
Vancouver's growing population.

The projects will help to ensure that our water
meets federal and provincial standards for
water quality, as well as provincial dam safety -
requirements.

Tuesday, April 25, 2060
Drop in anytime between
'§:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Capilano College, Sportsplex Building
- 2055 Purcell Way

North Vancouver

Parking $2