Hedera caneriensis (H. algeriensis)
Common: Algerian ivy
Family: Araliaceae
Sunset Zone: 8, 9, 12-24
Light: Any exposure, but must have shade in hot climates
Soil: Soil must be thoroughly pre-moistened before planting. Mix peat moss or ground bark into planting soil to a depth of 9-12 inches if possible.
Water: Algerian ivy needs more moisture than English ivy. In hot climates, the more water you give an ivy planting, the better it will hold up through summer. Withstands some drought in desert areas, especially in winter.
Widely planted ground cover. Often climbs fences, walls, trellises. Dependable, uniform, neat. Holds soil, discourages erosion and slippage on slopes. Roots grow deep and fill soil densely. Branches root as they grow, further knitting soil. Fast growing. Climbs any vertical surface by aerial rootlets. Evergreen. Shiny, rich green leaves 5-8 inches wide with three to five shallow lobes. Leaves are more widely spaced on stems than English ivy. Distinctive for its wine-red twigs and stems. Mature plants will develop stiff branches that bear clusters of small greenish flowers followed by poisonous black berries.
After spring planting, feed with high-nitrogen fertilizer. Feed again in August. For best possible growth, feed in early spring and August of every year. Can be grown from cuttings, but many will die and growth will be very slow. Plants from pots grow much faster. Best planting time is early spring (March in California and Arizona). Ivy can be a haven for slugs and snails. Also harbors rodents, especially when it is never cut back.