Swedish ivy

Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) is an easy trailing houseplant from southern Africa. It is not a true ivy and is not from Sweden. It belongs to the mint family. Grow it in a hanging basket in bright indoor light, out of hot direct sun. Water when the top inch of potting mix feels dry, and never let the pot sit in water. Keep it between 60°F and 75°F (16°C and 24°C), and bring it in before frost. Pinch back the stems after it flowers to keep it bushy.

Choose Swedish ivy if you want a forgiving hanging plant for a bright room. Skip it for a dark corner, since low light stops it from blooming and makes it leggy.

Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) is an ornamental plant in the Mint family (Lamiaceae) known for its beautiful foliage. It is best kept as an indoor hanging plant because it has trailing branches that will drape over the sides of the pot. It has glossy green leaves, some of which are tinged with creamy white or yellow, and most varieties will produce small, light purple, or white blossoms every year.

The sections below cover what Swedish ivy is, how to water and light it, and how to fix common problems.

Swedish ivy basics

The name is misleading. Swedish ivy is not native to Sweden. It comes from southern Africa. It is also not a true ivy. It belongs to the mint family and does not cling to walls the way true ivy does.

Swedish ivy is best known for its long stems that trail and spread as the plant matures. It has glossy green leaves with scalloped edges, sometimes marked with yellow or white. White or light purple flowers bloom on and off through the year. Some people call it creeping Charlie because of its creeping stems, but that name also belongs to a lawn weed (Glechoma hederacea).

Varieties of Swedish ivy

There are a few varieties of Swedish Ivy, but not many. Here are some cultivars of Swedish Ivy:

• Plectranthus verticillatus ‘Variegata’
• Golden Lemon Swedish Ivy
• Australian Swedish Ivy

‘Variegata’ is the most popular type. Its green leaves have white markings along the edges, and it is the one you will find most often in garden centers.

Watering Swedish ivy

Water Swedish ivy when the top inch of potting mix feels dry to the touch. Water well, and never let the plant sit in water. Water from below (set the pot in a sink with some water in it) or with a small watering can.

Keep water off the leaves to help prevent fungal disease. An indoor watering can with a narrow spout makes this easy. Water less in winter while the plant rests.

Lighting requirements for Swedish ivy

Indoors, Swedish ivy prefers bright light. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions puts it this way: “As an indoor plant, it prefers bright light, but outdoors it must be kept in the shade… direct sun burns the leaves.”

A grow light helps in a dim room. If you move the plant to a porch for summer, keep it out of full sun so the leaves do not burn.

Fertilizing Swedish ivy

Potted Swedish ivy needs regular feeding. Use a slow-release or liquid fertilizer made for potted plants, and follow the label. If the plant stops blooming, UF/IFAS suggests switching to a high-phosphorus, low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring.

Ambient temperature & humidity for Swedish ivy

Keep Swedish ivy between 60°F and 75°F (16°C and 24°C) when you can. It handles 40°F (4°C) for short periods, but frost kills it. Bring outdoor plants inside before the first frost.

Swedish ivy likes moderate humidity, but it handles dry indoor air better than many tropical plants. A humidifier is the best way to raise humidity.

Best potting soil for Swedish ivy

Swedish ivy grows in almost any good potting soil, as long as it drains well. Standing water leads to root rot. For the best results, use an organic potting mix with perlite or pumice. Do not reuse old potting mix for young plants.

Planter pots for Swedish ivy

Any pot with drainage works, but most people grow Swedish ivy in a hanging basket. The trailing stems drape over the sides as they grow.

A hanging basket gives the stems room to grow as long as they want. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole, or an inner liner pot with one.

Pests and diseases affecting Swedish ivy plants

Swedish ivy has few problems. Root rot is the main one, and you can avoid it by keeping standing water out of the pot.

The main sign of root rot is a plant that wilts and does not recover after watering. UF/IFAS suggests taking stem tip cuttings from the healthiest branches, rooting them in clean rooting mix, and throwing out the sick parent plant.

Other problems to watch for: dull, droopy leaves mean too much light, so move the plant to a shadier spot. Few or no blooms point to too much nitrogen or too little light. White cottony masses on stems and leaf undersides are mealybugs. Pale leaves with fine webbing underneath point to spider mites.

Treat mealybugs and spider mites with insecticidal soap, and follow the label. UF/IFAS notes that two applications should help control spider mites. Check the plant often so you catch pests early.

Swedish ivy FAQs

Is Swedish ivy a real ivy?

No. Swedish ivy is in the mint family, not the ivy family, and it comes from southern Africa rather than Sweden.

How often should I water Swedish ivy?

Water when the top inch of potting mix feels dry. Do not let the pot sit in water, and water less in winter.

Why are my Swedish ivy leaves droopy?

Dull, droopy leaves usually mean too much light. Move the plant to a spot with bright light but no hot direct sun.

Why won’t my Swedish ivy bloom?

Too much nitrogen fertilizer or too little light stops blooming. Move it to a brighter spot and use a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer in spring.