Right, Dr. Edgar Anderson, Director of Missouri Botanical 
Garden, who discovered and introduced Bulgarian Ivy. He is 
standing, with Hugh Steavenson, head of Forrest Keeling 
Nursery, on a ‘smooth, green carpet"’ of the ivy. Note also 
how the ivy clothes the tree-trunk in an evergreen sheath. 
Year ‘Round Verdure 
Those who have seen Bulgarian Ivy in 
some of the fine St. Louis gardens luxuriat- 
ing in the summer as ground cover, edging 
or as a vine would be completely satisfied 
if it did not possess evergreen qualities. 
But it does! Broadleaf evergreens are 
highly prized and much sought after by 
northern home-owners. There are so very 
few that are reliable. Here is one that has 
proven completely hardy and reliable. 
In the winter landscape, when trees and 
shrubs are bare and grass is brown, MBG 
Bulgaria remains in full leaf. 
Planting 
FORREST KEELING QUALITY 
BULGARIAN IVY 
Bulgarian Ivy is about the simplest 
plant to set out. It is a good idea to work 
up the soil where the ivy is to be planted. 
|) Then simply open a two-inch hole with 
the fingers of one hand, drop the soil ball 
containing the roots into the hole and firm 
in with thumb and fingers. If for some 
reason the soil can’t be worked up (if you are 
planting in a narrow strip between walk 
and wall or among tree roots, for example) 
| a trowel is handy; otherwise, the fingers 
| alone are better. In a prepared bed, 100 
| plants can be set in less than an hour by 
one person. 
Spacinc — For use as a vine, space 18 
inches apart along wall, trellis or other 
support. For establishing ground cover 
| you will have to let your pocketbook plus 
your haste to establish cover be your guide. 
You will find ivy spacing recommenda- 
tions vary from 8 inches to 21% feet. A 
happy medium of 18 inches is sensible, and 
will afford ground cover in a single growing 
season under most conditions. A 10 ft. x 
10 ft. area requires 44 plants at an 18 inch 
spacing. Remember our plants are well 
established in 214” plant bands, which 
means more “‘plant’’ than the usual 2 in. 
or 214 in. pot plants. 
Naturally if the ground is dry, water the 
plants in as soon as set. 
SoIL AND SHADE REQUIREMENTS — Bul- 
garian Ivy is not fussy when it comes to 
soil. Like almost any plant, a fertile, moist 
but well-drained soil will encourage a more 
rapid, richer growth. If your soil is on the 
lean side, apply commercial fertilizer as 
you would for your garden. Peat Moss 
worked in the soil and used as a mulch is 
wonderful. Excellent results have also been 
obtained by using manure as a mulch, 
particularly the dehydrated, weed-free 
manure obtainable in bags at any garden 
or hardware store. Now a special merit 
of Bulgarian Ivy is its ability to thrive in 
deep shade. Here grass and weeds cannot 
grow and the ivy has its own way. But it 
will do equally well in semi-shade. Sur- 
prisingly enough, it will grow (but not 
quite so luxuriantly) in open sunlight. In 
fact, our own stock beds are in almost full 
sun. 
Fee 
+. *, 2 
te 
Ph ie q 
A x © 43 
Lee 
A most satisfying use of Bulgarian Ivy is at the base of trees 
where grass will not grow and fo clothe the trunk. The ivy in 
no wise harms the free and only enhances its beauty. 
TIME TO PLant — Our Plants are grown 
in plant bands and can be set out any time 
in the spring, early summer or fall. When 
your order is received, we will ship imme- 
diately or as soon as planting conditions 
in your locality are favorable. 
Dr. and Mrs. Anderson relaxing in their patio. The back- 
ground is Bulgarian Ivy which adds much charm to the wall, 
and a refreshing, cooling atmosphere to the garden. 
A Labor-Saver 
Dr. Anderson recognized three key 
features of Bulgarian Ivy which were im- 
portant to the economy of the Missouri 
Botanical Garden: “‘ . . . Brings green into 
the winter landscape; seems in keeping 
with our old stone walls and iron fences; 
reduces maintenance expense.”’ 
As a ground cover, MBG Bulgaria grows 
so closely-knit that weeds are effectively 
suppressed. Mowing is eliminated and 
when the ivy is used as an edging the 
particularly tedious hand work of trimming 
lawn edges is reduced or eliminated. Bul- 
garian Ivy should be cultivated or mulched 
until established, but thereafter it can 
prove a great boon to the home-owner who 
is short on labor, or who prefers other 
summer activities than constant mowing 
and clipping of lawn edges and corners. 
BULGARIAN IVY FEATURES that will appeal to home-owners:— 
@ Most Hardy and Vigorous of outdoor ivies. 
@ Evergreen throughout year. 
®@ Completely charming against stone walls, iron fences, ground areas. 
® Reduces lawn maintenance expense. 
@ Rapid cover — especially important “when funds are slim and space is large.”’ 
@ Attention free — no fussing and pampering required. Pest free. 
®@ Restricted height growth — not over 6 inches as ground cover. 
@ Surveys have shown that nearly every home — old or new — has a definite need for the 
kind of ground cover that Bulgarian Ivy provides so superbly. Examine your own premises 
and you will see where this plant can enhance the beauty and livability of your own home 
and grounds. 
