7 Steps to Prevent and Stop Soil Erosion

English Ivy

English Ivy is a low-growing ground cover plant; it has glossy, heart-shaped leaves and produces small, inconspicuous brownish-purple flowers nestled among its dense, carpet-like foliage. It is a fantastic and versatile plant with several landscaping benefits. This evergreen vine is native to Europe and Western Asia and is widely embraced for its aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and practical applications. English Ivy English Ivy is a woody evergreen perennial vine and foliage plant that grows easily on vertical surfaces like trees, walls, fences, and trellises. The ancient Greeks believed the plant was sacred to the god Dionysus, and pagan druids revered it as a symbol of the divine feminine. In classical Latin, the word “hedera” refers to the ability to grasp, which is in keeping with the vine’s nature. Habitat Of English Ivy Native to Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia, the Hedera helix is nearly ubiquitous in Britain and is naturalized and prolific in many regions of the United States. In the wild, the plant grows under and on trees and up the sides of rocky cliffs, favoring moist, shady areas out of the sun. Appearance Of English Ivy Mature Hedera helix vines typically grow up to 80 feet tall and span a three- to five-foot width. Their climbing stems bear young, five-lobed leaves, while their fertile stems bear adult, spade-shaped leaves. These deep-green leaves can vary in size between two and four inches long. The top of the plant will often develop clusters of small, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom from late summer until late autumn. These nectar-rich blossoms will eventually yield a crop of small purple-black to orange-yellow berries that persist into winter. Cultivation Of English Ivy Its bright green foliage can add all-season color to any landscape and beautify forlorn spaces. Its vines can be trained to climb many stable vertical surfaces or grown as a ground cover to suppress weeds. Since Hedera helix grows quickly, it can make a good screen on a fence or trellis. When carefully grown on exterior building walls, it can protect their surfaces from exposure to bad weather and help regulate the temperature within. Ecology Of English Ivy Within the United States, Hedera helix can provide food and habitat for wildlife. Butterflies and moths eat their leaves, bees feed on their flowers’ nectar, and birds eat their berries in winter. The foliage often shelters insects and small animals, and it sometimes attracts nearby deer. English Ivy Can Be a Wonderful Addition to Your Garden Hedera helix is a beautiful evergreen vine with a rich history. When you plant it in your garden, you can enjoy its charming English character all year.

Periwinkle - Vinca minor

Periwinkle is a perennial vine and is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover plant with glossy green leaves and small, violet-blue flowers, often used to fill in garden spaces and control erosion. Incorporating it into landscaping offers many benefits that give beauty and functionality to outdoor spaces. This versatile ground cover brings lushness, adaptability, erosion control, low-maintenance care, and soft elegance to garden settings. Periwinkle - Vinca minor is famous for its blue flowers, and this plant is a remarkably good groundcover. Unlike some groundcovers, it grows quickly without becoming invasive. Because of this, many home gardeners and landscape designers like to add this cheery plant to their landscape. Periwinkle - Vinca Minor Is A Versatile Groundcover It initially originated in central and southern Europe. Classified as a part of the dogbane family, this flowering plant quickly spread to the Baltic States, the Netherlands, and the Caucasus. Today, it is grown around the world as a groundcover. Sometimes, people may refer to this groundcover by other common names, like creeping myrtle or myrtle. There’s Nothing Minor About Periwinkle - Vinca minor This plant is truly a gardener’s delight. Its strong roots help to control soil erosion, and its trailing vines are full of glossy leaves. Because deer don’t normally like this plant, you don’t have to worry about it disappearing. Plus, it can handle some foot traffic, so it doesn’t get trampled easily. Periwinkle - Vinca minor Offers Lovely Foliage Because this plant is considered an evergreen, it will keep its glossy, green leaves in the winter. After you plant it, the vines will gradually spread over neighboring areas. While it mostly grows along the ground, this vine can sometimes get up to 16 inches in height. Unlike other vines, it never climbs or twines around trees or walls. Instead, you can enjoy having it as a permanent ground cover in your garden. Periwinkle - Vinca minor Flowers Are Sure to Impress The most notable part of this vine is its flowers. They are typically created between early spring and the middle of summer. Sometimes, you will still notice a few flowers in autumn. All of the flowers have a violet-purple shade and a five-lobed corolla. On some species, you can even find white and pale purple flowers. With this popular groundcover, you will get to have an evergreen mat in your garden beds throughout the year. The flowers remain for a large portion of spring and summer, so you can appreciate bright blue pops. Thanks to its rapid growth, you don’t have to wait long to see this lovely vine fill empty areas in your yard.