Department of Parks and Recreation
Central Library English Ivy Alternatives Demonstration Garden
English Ivy Alternatives Demo Garden
On March 18th, 2006, we hosted an EnviroYard workshop at Central Library. Speakers gave presentations on invasive plant control, landscaping with native plants, creating backyard wildlife habitats and rain garden installation.
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Staff and volunteers replant the English ivy bed with alternative native plants. |
Participants then helped us remove English ivy from one of the landscape beds at Arlington Central Library. The beds were replanted with non-invasive alternatives to English ivy in May 2006.
This English Ivy Alternatives Demonstration Garden will serve as a living educational demonstration of what can grow (besides English ivy) on a slope that is part deep shade, and partly shady. All of the alternative plants we chose are native to the local area or region and are available from native plant nurseries. Thank you to Mary Pierce of PRCR and Scott Knudsen of Tree Stewards for helping us select plants for our garden. Keep checking the landscape beds at Central library and/or our photo catalogue for updates.
Here is a list of plants that we used in the Alternatives Demo Garden. Click on the links to see what the plants look like and how they are doing.
Allegheny Spurge – (Pachysandra procumbens)
Creeping Phlox – Home Fires Variety (Phlox stolonifera)
Creeping Phlox – Sherwood Purple Variety (Phlox stolonifera)
Dale’s Strain Alumroot (Heuchera americana)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris)
Painter’s Palette (Tovara virginiana)
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
For more English ivy alternative ideas, also visit the Shade Quarry Garden at Bon Air Park. This garden is maintained by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Also, check out Virginia’s Native Plant Society’s brochure on Alternatives to English Ivy.
CONTACT US
Invasive Plant Coordinator
Sarah Archer
Phone: 703-228-1862
