Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo', an ivy with panache
Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo'
- Exposures
- Half-shade, Shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Ivy Hedera
- Species
- Hedera algeriensis
Other name:Hedera canariensis 'Gloire de Marengo'
Some cultivars have poetic names, others are named after their creator or to honor a collector. And then there's 'Gloire de Marengo' ivy. This variety of Hedera algeriensis pays tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte and one of his most unlikely victories. No doubt because of its panache-filled leaves.
How to recognize Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo'?
A climbing or creeping perennial, Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo' reaches a height of eight meters and a spread of five.
The woody stems are studded. These enable the plant to cling to its support, whether vertical or horizontal.
Leaves are supported by purple petioles. Dark green, they are mottled with gray and have wide white or cream margins. They measure at least ten centimetres in all directions and have a domed surface.
Several different leaf shapes can be found on the same plant. Oval to cordate leaf blades grow on fertile shoots. Sterile stems have triangular leaves with shallow lobes.
Greenish flowers appear in early autumn. They are grouped in corymbs at the ends of the stems.
They are replaced in December by fleshy, black berries.
The berries, like the foliage, are toxic to us and our pets. Don't let your dog or cat eat them, and wear gloves when pruning your 'Gloire de Marengo' ivy.
Our care tips
Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo' are sometimes sold as houseplants. But they are in fact hardy and resistant outdoor plants. So hardy, in fact, that they can become invasive! Think carefully before planting your specimen. Once it's in the ground, you won't be able to move it.
Watering
Water your Algerian ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' when the potting soil has dried on the surface, for at least three centimetres.
Supply the plant with non-calcareous water at room temperature. Rainwater is best. If you don't have any, you can filter mains water or leave it to stand for 24 hours.
After watering, check the saucer or planter. If stagnant water appears, empty it. It could rot the roots.
Repotting
Choose a pot with holes larger than the previous one. Two centimetres more in diameter and depth will suffice. Line the bottom with clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage.
Pour in a layer of universal potting soil. Plant your Algerian ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' and add substrate.
Planning to climb your plant on a wall or pergola? The stems should find their way up on their own. But you can help them a little by arranging the branches on the support.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo', apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
To stimulate the growth of your Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo', use a liquid fertilizer for green plants.
Apply a dose of compost at the foot of the plant.
Prune
Your Algerian ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' is a fast-growing plant. You need to prune it to control its spread and prevent it from taking over your space.
Use a clean, sharp tool. Depending on the diameter of the stems, you can choose between scissors or pruning shears.
Remove dead branches by cutting them at their base.
Shorten any shoots that have grown too long by cutting just above a node. This encourages branching and helps maintain a compact shape.
Planting
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Soak the rootball in a bucket of water at room temperature. Meanwhile, dig a hole twice the size of the rootball.
Plant your Algerian ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' without burying the collar. Fill in with your garden soil and water.
The plant will naturally cling to its support. But you can encourage it to do so by arranging the branches against the wall or trellis you've planned.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Using disinfected pruning shears, remove a stem ten to fifteen centimeters long. Remove the leaves at the base and keep those at the top.
Get a pot with holes to suit the size of your seedlings. Line the bottom with clay balls or gravel to improve drainage.
Pour in a rich, light substrate, such as potting soil, and plant your cuttings. To help you, you can use a pencil to form a pilot hole.
Water to encourage rooting and eliminate air bubbles.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- Half-shadeShade
- Substrates
- Calcareous earthHumus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubsPlanter
- Categories
- ClimberHerbaceous
- Tags
- BeginnerInvasiveToxic
- Origin
- North Africa
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight greenWhiteCreamSilver
- Flower color
- Pale green
- Fruit color
- Black
Discover plants from the same family
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
