Plant this Tree ivy (× Fatshedera lizei) is one of the few plants that thrives indoors or out. It’s a cross between ivy (hedera) and fatsia with large evergreen leaves, but it won’t cling like ivy and is more restrained at around 1.5 metres: you can tie it to supports or leave it as what’s sometimes called a “loose-limbed shrub”. Outside, give it full sun or partial shade; inside, it will do well in gloomy corners. Look out for variegated forms including the dappled ‘Annemieke’.
Cut this As hellebores come into flower, it’s easy to lose their nodding flowers among last year’s leathery foliage. Cut the leaves away at the base. This is particularly important if the foliage has brown patches, as this is a sign of hellebore leaf spot. If leaves look infected, bin them rather than composting.
Read this From the jade plant to the Aloe vera, cacti and succulents have never been more popular. If yours are a mushy mess, invest in the RHS Practical Cactus And Succulent Book by Zia Allaway and Fran Bailey (Dorling Kindersley). It has plant profiles and clever display ideas, so with this book your fleshy plant friends will thrive.
