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RE: Boston Ivy - a green blanket for your walls.

in #parthenocissus7 years ago

Boston Ivy in the landscape
Native to China and Japan, this perennial vine is grown for its glossy green, sharply lobed leaves, which are arranged in overlapping tiers so dense that the support behind them disappears. The leaves of some varieties are purplish when young and may become veined or edged in pink as they mature. In fall Boston ivy turns brilliant red, and in winter the leafless stems draw interest with the lines they trace, stretching ever upward until they reach 18 metres (60 feet) in length.

Boston ivy fastens itself to a surface with adhesive, suckerlike pads called holdfasts. They cause no harm to brick, stone or stucco, but can hold moisture against wood surfaces, contributing to its decay. And, should you need to pull the vine down to paint a wooden structure, substantial work is involved in removing holdfasts and their residue from the wall.

Growing Boston ivy
Plant Boston ivy in spring in a partially shaded site.
It is not fussy about soil but grows vigorously in fertile soil high in organic matter, so amend the planting hole with leaf mold, compost or dried manure if your soil has a lot of clay or sand.
Keep the roots barely moist throughout the first growing season and in subsequent years when rainfall is lacking. Young vines may need some training to get them to climb until the holdfasts unfurl from the stems and touch the support.
Press the stems against the growing surface by propping them behind a brick, or a similar object. The stems will soon send out holdfasts to grab the wall on contact.
Don't let this vigorous vine, which grows several feet each year, get out of control.
Prune in any season to keep the vines away from eaves and window or door frames, and to contain size. Its thick leaves are an adequate deterrent to pests and diseases.

Thanks for the information

@ctrl-alt-nwo
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