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Glite Dictionary
German ivy

German ivy

8.3
A trailing evergreen houseplant from South Africa with shiny green leaves
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɜrmən ˈaɪvi/
translation icon : hiedra alemana
  • Many people choose German ivy as an easy houseplant because of its trailing stems and lush green leaves.

Examples

  • She trained the German ivy to climb the trellis by her living room window.

  • The German ivy thrives in bright, indirect sunlight.

  • Gardeners sometimes confuse German ivy with English ivy, but they are different species.

  • I love the lush leaves of German ivy.

  • Many people choose German ivy as an easy houseplant because of its trailing stems and lush green leaves.

  • Gardeners sometimes confuse German ivy with English ivy, but they are different species.

  • The German ivy thrives in bright, indirect sunlight.

Synonyms

Senecio milkanioides
vsGerman ivy
  • Specialized
9.9

A South African climbing plant with thick leaves and yellow flowers often kept indoors

is the common houseplant term covering this species and similar ones
Delairea odorata
vsGerman ivy
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing evergreen plant from South Africa with yellow flowers grown indoors for its pretty leaves

is a succulent twining houseplant rather than a non succulent climber

Surface Forms

German ivy singular
German ivies plural

Morphology

German + ivy

The compound is a straightforward adjective + noun naming a variety of ivy associated with Germany, so a learner who knows 'German' and 'ivy' will infer it denotes a type of ivy plant. While detailed botanical facts (e.g. succulent habit or South African origin) cannot be deduced, the basic referential meaning is compositionally transparent and follows common naming patterns.

Etymology

German ivy may come from a simple story: gardeners in Germany grew it a lot, so people called it German ivy. The name joins German (where it was popular) and ivy (a climbing plant), so it helps you remember it is a common climbing 'houseplant'.