Delairea odorata

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Plant
ID 871 Delairea odorata
Botanic Name Delairea odorata
Common Name Cape Ivy
Family Name Asteraceae
Cultivars syn. Senecio mikanioides
Origin South Africa, Zone 9-10
Growth Type Climber
Bark Type Soft wooded
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use High
No. of Species 1
Growth Habit Climbing-twining Growth Rate Fast
Height 2 - 4 m (7 - 13 ft) Spread 1 m (3 ft)
Plant Overview
This vigorous climbing perennial has a twinning purplish succulent stems and forms a dense cover. It has fleshy light green lobed leaves and the dense yellow flower heads appear during winter.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Cordate
The light green glabrous fleshy cordate leaves up to 100 mm (4 in) long by 80 mm (3 1/8 in) wide have variable margins that have 5 to 7 or more triangular shape lobes and a hastate base. The texture is thin-fleshy and the petiole is up to 70 mm.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Pinnatifid
Colour Light green
Size 40 - 100 mm ( 1.6 - 3.9 in )
Flower
Perfume Fragrant Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The 8 to 12 yellow flowers have no ray florets and 10-12 tubular disk florets that are accompanied by small green bracts. the flower heads are up to 7 mm (¼ in) wide. 15- 50 are arranged in a loose terminal corymbose panicle, winter to spring
Inflorescence Capitulum
Colour Yellow
Size 2 - 7 mm ( 0.1 - 0.3 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Cypsela Additional Information
Colour Brown
This one seeded reddish-brown achene has a pappus of silky hairs that are up to 6 mm (¼ in) long and are normally dispersed by wind, gravity, water and from rubbish dumping.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 2 - 3 mm ( 0.1 - 0.1 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well to poorly drained fertile moist sandy to clay loam, pH 6.0-7.5
Container Pots, tubs, planter boxes, roof gardens
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Full sun to semi shade open position, frost tender, drought tolerant
Pest & Diseases Not attacked, seeds germinate and roots shoots after disturbance
Fertiliser Potted plants require complete fertiliser during spring, keep moist
Pruning Tolerates a hard prune, as a weed remove plant and roots from the ground and dispose off site
Cultural Uses Propagation
Cape Ivy is grown for its foliage and climbing habit. It is not normally cultivated as an ornamental plant but generally regarded as a weed. It can be trained on wire fences for screening or over structures for shade.
This plant is not normally cultivated for ornamental purposes in Australia. Sow seed during spring to summer.
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