Barbara Pleasant: Swedish Ivy

I’m half Swedish, so of course one of the first houseplants I ever grew was Swedish ivy, a super easy plant that’s at home in a pot or a basket.

What’s in a Name?

In my book and elsewhere you will see Swedish ivy listed as Plectranthus australis, but its updated botanic name is Plectranthus verticillatus. Native to the tropical and semi-tropical woodland edges of South Africa, wild Plectranthus verticillatus grows into a rangy groundcover topped by flushes of flowers in winter. Among houseplants, Swedish ivy (sometimes called creeping Charlie) is among the best choices for hanging baskets.  

To Bloom or Not To Bloom?

Indoor blossoms make us happy until it’s time to clean up the shriveled flowers that litter the floor. Swedish ivy plants grown in low light usually bloom very little, but produce plenty of big, shiny leaves. I’m a fool for the little flowers, so I encourage strong blooming by giving the plants some tough love in summer. I move the plants outdoors after the weather turns warm and cut them back by at least half their size. Then I let them grow in the shade all summer, where they get pitifully parched from time to time. When brought back indoors in early fall, summer-stressed Swedish ivy plants quickly produce spikes of pale pink flowers.