Although very few plants can grow on a lighthouse, at the SNFCC Lighthouse the English Ivy does pretty well, as you can see above!
The Ivy is a genus of flowering plants in the Araliaceae family. The most famous cultivated and native species of Ivy in Greece is the English Ivy. Hedera helix is its Latin name, whereas Hedera cognates with Greek word khandáno (to get, grasp) and helix, from the ancient Greek word elix (helix, which meanders). Ιn various areas around Greece, we find it under other names, such as Brunovalia (Pelion), Bruskeli (Volos), Kisneras (Corfu) and Kleidonas (Kynouria). The English Ivy is an evergreen shrub, long-lived, climbing or reptile, reaching up to 20-30 meters. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets with matted pads which cling strongly to the substrate. It can also grow to the detriment of other plants, suffocating them, thus taking the form of a sapling.
Its leaves are alternately arranged, with a long stem, ovate, triangular, rhomboid and heart-shaped, three- or five-lobed, while the juvenile leaves of the plant are quite different from the adult ones, in color and shape.
The flowers are produced from late summer until late autumn. Their color is greenish-yellow, and they are very rich in nectar, an important food source for bees and other insects, which even help to its pollination. Its small black round and juicy fruits ripening in late winter serve also as a food source for birds and are dispersed after being eaten by them.
The English Ivy grows best in moist, well-drained soils and semi-shady planting locations. It is also found in sparse mixed forests, hot rocks, and walls while it thrives at altitudes up to 1800 meters above sea level. It has moderate watering requirements and is extremely resistant to low winter temperatures, air pollution and coastal plantings.
The English Ivy can live up to 100 years and its genus is estimated to be more than 60 million years old. In ancient Egypt, Ivy was sacred to Osiris, the god of fertility and ruler of the underworld. While in Greece, the Ivy dates to the Homer times. It was called "Dionysion", as it was dedicated to the god Dionysus.
The ancient Greeks used to crown with Ivy the poets and the drinkers, too. They considered it a symbol of immortality and an antidote to the headache from intoxication. Although its medicinal use is well documented, the writings of Hippocrates already describe its root, leaves and fruits as medicines for internal and external use.
Did you know that…
The English Ivy, in addition to its ornamental value, also offers effective sound insulation in buildings due to its dense foliage. That is why vertical plantings are used on highways.
