Ivy produces green-yellow umbellate flowers quite late in the year, which are very popular with bees and insects. Real berries are formed from them. We clarify in this article whether these also contain germinable seeds and other exciting questions.
What do ivy seeds look like and can they be used for propagation?
Ivy seeds are small, approximately 5 mm large drupes that are contained in real berries. The plant flowers in late autumn and only produces fruit when it is approx.20 years. Ivy can easily be propagated by seeds, but they are poisonous and contain toxic substances such as alpha-hederin.
What do ivy seeds look like?
Ivy formssmall, approximately 5 millimeter large drupes in which the seeds are located. However, only the age form of Hedera Helix flowers from around the age of twenty and subsequently produces fruit.
The umbel flowers, which are very popular with bees and other insects, only appear in late autumn. After fertilization, the close-together, real berries are formed, in which up to five seeds are hidden.
Can ivy be propagated by seeds?
Ivycan be easily propagated by seeds. The climbing plant is a cold germinator, which means that you first have to interrupt the germination inhibition of the seeds by a cold stimulus.
How are ivy seeds stratified?
This is very easy to do by storing the collected and pulp-freeseeds in the refrigerator for a while:
- Put some wet sand in a plastic bag or small, tightly fitting container.
- Put the ivy seeds inside.
- Store in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for at least three weeks.
- Check occasionally because the seeds must not dry out.
Alternatively, you can expose the seeds mixed with sand to the winter cold.
How are ivy seeds sown?
TheSowingof Hedera Helix is made easy by thegood germination ability of the seedsquiteuncomplicated:
- Fill growing trays or pots (€8.00 on Amazon) with growing soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds mixed with sand on top.
- Cover with a very thin layer of soil and water.
- Put a transparent cap over the shells until germination.
- Keep moist and ventilate for a short time every day.
- As soon as three pairs of leaves have formed, prick out.
- Cut back the shoot tips regularly so that bushy and strong plants develop.
Are ivy seeds poisonous?
Ivy is one of thepoisonous plants,with thehighest concentration of toxic substancesin the pulp surrounding theseedscan be found. This contains, among other things, alpha-hederine (triterpene saponin).
This toxin has a very strong effect on the circulatory system and the digestive tract. It causes symptoms of poisoning even in small doses. These are expressed in the form of:
- Diarrhea,
- Vomiting,
- Headache,
- Heart racing,
- Seizures.
If children have eaten poison ivy, you should definitely call the poison control center.
Tip
Sowing ivy seeds after winter
If you leave seeds and fruits on the ivy during the winter months, you don't have to stratify them and you can sow them directly in spring. However, there is a risk that the berries, which are very popular with birds, will be completely eaten and you will only find a few seeds left.
