Hedera

English ivy, common ivy, Algerian ivy

Message of the Flower

Lasting Attachment

The Mother’s Comment

Modest, unostentatious, but persistent.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

What we propose in our Yoga is nothing less than to break up the whole formation of our past and present which makes up the ordinary material and mental man and to create a new centre of vision and a new universe of activities in ourselves which shall constitute a divine humanity or a superhuman nature.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - I: Self-Consecration

No change can be more radical than the revolution attempted in the integral Yoga. Everything in us has constantly to be called back to the central faith and will and vision. Every thought and impulse has to be reminded in the language of the Upanishad that "That is the divine Brahman and not this which men here adore." Every vital fibre has to be persuaded to accept an entire renunciation of all that hitherto represented to it its own existence. Mind has to cease to be mind and become brilliant with something beyond it. Life has to change into a thing vast and calm and intense and powerful that can no longer recognise its old blind eager narrow self of petty impulse and desire. Even the body has to submit to a mutation and be no longer the clamorous animal or the impeding clod it now is, but become instead a conscious servant and radiant instrument and living form of the spirit.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - I: Self-Consecration

Colour

greenish-yellow

Family

Araliaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Goldheart', 'Glacier', and 'Green Ripple'.

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small, usually 5-6 mm in diameter.

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Flowers are made up of 5 small petals.

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant.

Leaf Texture

Waxy, glossy.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate.

Leaf Color

Green, with some variegated cultivars having white, gold, or yellow markings.

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Climbing vine or ground cover.

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late summer to early fall.

Climate

Temperate

Water Requirements

Moderate; ivy prefers moist but well-drained soil.

Soil Type

Tolerant of a wide range of soil types but prefers rich loams.

Temperature Ranges

Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 for Hedera helix, varies by species.

Sun or Shade

Prefers partial to full shade; can tolerate sun with adequate moisture.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to spider mites, aphids, and fungal diseases like leaf spot.

Pollinators

Attracts bees and other insects.

Habitat

Forests, walls, gardens, and as ground cover in shaded areas.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides shelter and food for wildlife.

Ornamental

Widely used in landscaping for its aesthetic appeal and adaptability.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Symbolic uses in ceremonies and decorations.

Endangered Status

Not endangered; considered invasive in some regions.