People often plant ivy out of desperation realizing they need to cover up a concrete block wall in the yard or quickly fill in an eyesore. We can't urge you enough not to do this. Once you plant Ivy, it's all over, you'll never get rid of it and once it's established it isn't very pretty. Did we mention that when it's overgrown it's a favorite spot for rats to nest in? There are a million other vines you could plant, but our go-to is creeping fig:
Alternative to Ivy: Creeping Fig Vine
Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) is a fast growing, small leafed vine that will stick and climb up stucco and concrete. It's hardy, it gives nice coverage and texture to an otherwise frightfully boring wall and you can simply rip it off the wall if it gets to be too much. Careful with planting this on the exterior of a house since it'll probably take some of the stucco with it when you rip it off. It's also common enough to find at home depot.
We like that it provides a nice backdrop to the rest of the garden since it has such tiny leaves.
Besides this, we're a sucker for flowers and would opt for a flowering vine, like the trumpet vine but they tend not to grow as quickly and need some sort of a structure to grow up. The creeping fig will grow from the ground, up the wall with no prodding or supports, it wants to climb.
Ivy image from Center for History and New Media, Creeping Fig from Chanaoka Flickr]
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You might want to include the latin name of the ivy plant you are referring to. I'm assuming you are talking about Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) but since there are many other varieties of ivy out there I can't be sure.
view sockbuttons's profile
A creeping fig vine has taken over my parents' whole concrete wall between their house and their neighbor's house. It goes from the very end of the backyard to the front sidewalk and it is on their side of the wall and the neighbor's. It really is beautiful - much better than concrete.
view Fatica's profile
My block walls are covered in creeping fig and I love it. It makes for a beautiful natural backdrop to my yards and covers up the ugly blocks.
view Seaside's profile
i didn't believe it until i saw it, but if you dig up the root of an ivy plant, wrap it in burlap and fill back in over it, it will stop growing without dying. this way it doesnt get so overgrown.
view cblls's profile
sockbuttons - the creeping fig is a very well known ivy. A simple google search brings up many sites with information about this plant, as well as the Latin name... ficus pumila.
view jick's profile
Sockbuttons, I'm going to assume English Ivy, Hedera Helix, is meant here. It's terribly invasive and a threat to native species:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/e-ivy.htm
view Rebecca_South's profile
Creeping fig can also be invasive, and it damages structures when grown in an environment without a winter "kill". You should read the reviews on sites like Dave's Garden Guides before you plant "spreading" plants outside.
view J. Cipa's profile
Thanks Rebecca and J. Cipa for the info!
view laure's profile
Ahh... looks like I had things mixed up. Sorry!
view jick's profile
That makes more sense, thanks Rebecca. I didn't know what Ivy she was referring to and now I understand why, Hedera helix can't survive the winters in my state.
view sockbuttons's profile
The young leaves of the creeping fig are very pretty (what you show in your picture), but the mature leaves and branches are very thick and can harbor vermin just like ivy can. Pulling off the maturing vines can keep it looking like your picture.
view LilyC's profile
The plant in your first picture is kudzu—which is, by far and away, the absolute WORST thing you could plant where I live. I'd rather see people plant poison ivy as an ornamental.
view nausved's profile
I know it's not environmentally friendly, but Roundup works like a charm on Boston Ivy and Trumpet Vine. We have a neglected rental adjacnt to our house, and it's the only thing that keeps the massive clumps of foliage from invading my backyard.
view matt in kc's profile
My parents have had creeping fig covering their fences for over 30 years and it looks beautiful. They keep it trimmed and haven't had any issues.
On the other hand, I am still constantly battling outcroppings of the german ivy that made its way over from my neighbor's yard into mine. Dastardly green beast.
view Seaside's profile
So, *that's* where I parked my car...
view genjenn's profile
Passionfruit vine is the best!
view SydneyBristow's profile