greenery · easy · budget
Ivy
Hedera helix · aka English ivy
Ivy is the classical cascading greenery — trailing vines up to two metres, small leaves in deep green or variegated, exceptional vase life. A wedding bouquet staple for centuries, and now the go-to trailing element for modern bridal cascades and archway installations. Some varieties will even root in vase water — an old symbolic touch of fidelity.
At a glance
| Family | Araliaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Europe, western Asia; commercially grown Netherlands, Italy |
| Peak season | all year |
| Availability | all year |
| Stem length | 40–200 cm |
| Vase life | 10–21 days |
| Colors | deep green, variegated |
| Price tier | budget |
Conditioning
Cut on a diagonal, fresh water. Vining stems can be trained around structures or cascade freely.
Care in the vase
- •Trailing vines up to 2 metres — cascade edge staple
- •Long vase life, some varieties root in water
- •Variegated cultivars add textural contrast
- •Mildly toxic if ingested — keep away from pets
Design role & symbolism
Symbolismfidelity, eternal life, wedded love
Occasionswedding, cascading bouquet, arch installations, long-lasting arrangements
Substitutesclematis, smilax
greenerywedding-favoritecascadelong-lasting
