Plants
Grape Ivy
Cissus rhombifolia · Vitaceae
Grape ivy, a climbing classic that has unfairly gone out of fashion, is a robust trailing plant with glossy dark-green, rhombus-shaped leaflets that works equally well in a hanging basket or on a trellis. Hardly any foliage plant copes better with office and stairwell conditions. We buy our grape ivy in densely leaved quality at the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Light
- Bright to shady — one of the most shade-tolerant climbing plants; just avoid direct sun.
- Watering
- Moderate — let the top layer of soil dry between waterings; forgives the occasional lapse.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Cissus rhombifolia
Botanically, grape ivy really is a grape relative: like the grapevine, Cissus belongs to the Vitaceae and climbs with tendrils that wrap around anything offering support. The three-part, toothed leaves have a leathery gloss; new growth is finely silver-haired and shimmers bronze before darkening.
Grape ivy honestly earned its reputation as an indestructible office plant in the seventies: it tolerates shade better than almost any climbing plant, copes with cool stairwells as well as normally heated rooms, and does not resent irregular watering. It only dislikes harsh sun and permanently wet soil.
Besides Cissus rhombifolia with its proven, densely leaved cultivar Ellen Danica (oakleaf grape ivy), the related Cissus antarctica, the kangaroo vine, with simple toothed leaves is also traded. Both are cared for identically; rhombifolia stays finer in leaf overall.
Grape ivy grows briskly and wants to be kept busy: guided along a trellis, a string or a shelf, it greens whole wall areas within a few years. In a hanging basket you simply let the shoots trail. Regular pinching encourages branching — long bare shoots can be cut back boldly at any time.
Typical problems are quickly explained: leaf drop after moving house is a temporary adjustment reaction. Mildew on the leaves indicates too little air movement, while brown, dry margins point to harsh sun or a root ball left dry for weeks. All in all, though, grape ivy is one of those plants where little ever goes wrong.
For households with cats and dogs it is a relaxed choice, as it is considered non-toxic. In interior styling we like to combine it with pothos and spider plant into easy-care green walls — three generations of office plants that together look surprisingly modern.
Is Grape Ivy toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Grape ivy is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children, making it one of the safest climbing plants for the home — unlike true ivy, to which it is not related despite the English name.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place bright to semi-shaded; darker corners are tolerated too, avoid direct sun.
- 02Water moderately: let the top layer of soil dry, avoid waterlogging.
- 03Normal room temperature; cooler rooms down to about 10 degrees Celsius are no problem.
- 04Offer a trellis or hanging basket and guide the shoots regularly.
- 05Pinch shoot tips occasionally so the plant stays dense.
- 06Feed every two to four weeks from spring to autumn.
Frequently asked
- Is grape ivy toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, Cissus rhombifolia is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. The misleading name grape ivy often causes confusion with toxic true ivy (Hedera) — but the two are botanically unrelated; grape ivy belongs to the grape family.
- How fast does grape ivy grow?
- In a good spot it adds 30 to 60 centimetres per year and reaches two to three metres on a trellis over the years. If you prefer it compact, pinch the shoots regularly — grape ivy then branches willingly and grows bushy instead of long.
- Is grape ivy suitable for dark rooms?
- It is one of the best climbing plants for lower-light spots such as hallways, stairwells and north-facing rooms. It cannot do entirely without light, of course — the darker the spot, the slower the growth and the wider the leaf spacing. A bright north-facing position is the best compromise.
- Why is my grape ivy dropping leaves?
- Some leaf drop after relocation is normal and settles within a few weeks. Persistent leaf loss points to waterlogging or a spot that is too dark and draughty. Check the soil, water less often and move it somewhere brighter — regrowth from the leaf axils follows reliably.