The shape of the leaves of Kenilworth Ivy lead to its Latin name cymbalaria . The rounded leaves look similar to a cymbal, the musical instrument. Muralis refers to its ability to climb walls. In nature, it is typically found growing in disturbed locations as well as rocky shores, near buildings and along sidewalks. It spread by means of its runners which root along its nodes. The flowers are held upwards on a stalk in search of light. After the flower is fertilized the stalk will then take on a pendent form to move away from light, forcing the seed into dark crevices where it will germinate. It is a very short herbaceous perennial that forms a dense mat and is often grown as a ground cover or on rock and wall crevices and along footpaths. It is native to Europe and Asia. It has kidney-shaped medium green leave and tiny blue-violet flowers that resemble snapdragons. Honeybees are attracted to the flowers where the yellow 'honey guides' direct the bees to the center of the flower where pollen and nectar can be found. Use on slopes, rock gardens, pollinator gardens or containers. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mites, snails and slugs occasionally visit this plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 3 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Dense; Prostrate
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Orbicular; Reniform
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1-2 inch long rounded to kidney-shaped green leaves with 3-7 lobes that end with a sharp point. Each is palmately veined and lobed.
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Blue-violet snapdragon-type flower with a yellow throat and long spurs on a long petiole. Blooms May to Sept. This two lipped flower has a 2-lobed upper lip and a 3-lobed lower lip.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The pedicels or dry fruits split open when they ripen. They tend to grow away from sunlight.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Rooting at the nodes, the reddish-brown stems grow along the ground, forming a dense mat. They can also scale walls. Rooting takes place at the nodes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe and Asia
Wildlife value
Honey bees are attracted to the dainty flowers.
Attracts
Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Shade
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Ground cover
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Naturalized Area; Patio; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Fairy Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#naturalizes #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #foot traffic intolerant #herbaceous #heat intolerant #low growing #groundcover #humidity intolerant #naturalized area #winter damage #self-fertile #self-seeding #honey bees #drought tolerant #fairy garden
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants; Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage