Ivy: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists
Hedera helix
Ivy (Hedera helix, family Araliaceae) usually lasts 10–14 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: foliage.
- Botanical name
- Hedera helix
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Accepted name
- Hedera helix L.
- Role in a design
- Foliage
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- In season
- Year-round
- Fragrance
- None
- Colours
- green
- Meaning
- Fidelity — a traditional wedding foliage
- Type
- Branch / foliage
- Pets
- Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Cut flower commercial monograph
- Official name
- Ivy
- Botanical name
- Hedera helix
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Aliases
- None
- Native origin
- Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide
- Growth habit
- Woody perennial shrub or decorative branch with structural lignified stems.
- Stem length
- 80–120 cm
- Natural colours
- Green
- Natural bloom
- Natural flowering in spring and summer
- Commercial supply
- Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production
- Harvest stage
- Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Cold storage
- Cold storage suitable (2–5°C constant temperature, high humidity).
- Special care
- Condition by submerging whole trails in water for half an hour. Holds up well out of water, which makes it useful for wired and trailing work.
- Application
- Serves primarily as Foliage in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.
- Market notes
- Condition by submerging whole trails in water for half an hour. Holds up well out of water, which makes it useful for wired and trailing work.
For florists
Try Ivy in a client design
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Try it as a design — freeCare and conditioning
- Condition by submerging whole trails in water for half an hour. Holds up well out of water, which makes it useful for wired and trailing work.
- Ivy is mildly toxic to cats and dogs: remind clients with pets to keep it out of reach.
Where it fits
| Use | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ! | Mildly toxic if eaten — advise keeping it out of reach. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | Long-lasting (about 10–14 days) — good for orders prepared ahead and weekly contract flowers. |
Pairs well with
These are available at the same time as ivy and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:
| Flower | Role | Vase life |
|---|---|---|
| Carnation | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Bird of paradise | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Orchids (cut) | Focal flower | 10–21 days |
| Statice | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| Craspedia (billy buttons) | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| Alstroemeria | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
Substitutes
When ivy is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:
| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monstera leaf | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Asparagus fern | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Fatsia | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| Leatherleaf fern | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
FAQ
How long does ivy last in a vase?
Usually 10–14 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.
When is ivy in season?
It is available year-round.
How do you keep ivy fresh?
Condition by submerging whole trails in water for half an hour. Holds up well out of water, which makes it useful for wired and trailing work.
What does ivy symbolise?
Fidelity — a traditional wedding foliage. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures.
Is ivy toxic to cats or dogs?
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.
What can I use instead of ivy?
Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Monstera leaf, Asparagus fern, Fatsia, Leatherleaf fern.
Related guides
In season at the same time
RoseLilyCarnationGerbera daisyLisianthusBaby's breathBird of paradiseOrchids (cut)