Meet the president of plants: Oval Office Ivy, aka Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus).
Right now, Oval Office Ivy has had a summer of growth and is looking forward to voting in the election on November 3rd. Oval Office Ivy has seen many U.S. presidents at work over the years, beginning during the Presidency of Gerald Ford. A great- or even great-GREAT-grandparent of Oval Office Ivy graced the mantle in the Oval Office of the White House through the Ford, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden presidencies. President Trump had “The Plant” removed when he redecorated the space for his second term.
Provenance Matters
The White House staff and gardeners have made a tradition of giving away plants when someone leaves. Our plants came from President Obama, who gave cuttings to Hilary Clinton, who gave slips to her top staff, including the sister-in-law of one of our Hennepin County Master Gardeners. She then rooted some cuttings and brought them as a hostess gift to our member, who rooted the slips that we are offering. They are genetically identical to the original plant.
Swedish Ivy is a low maintenance houseplant that can be styled to trail beautifully down a bookcase or kitchen counter or pinched back to keep its bushy appearance. The bright green leaves look like the edges have been trimmed delicately with pinking shears. Swedish Ivy likes bright, indirect light and a drink when the top inch of its soil becomes dry. It is not fussy and enjoys the same temperature and humidity that we feel comfortable with in our homes, which is why it is such an easy companion and addition to your houseplant collection!
Want to grow this beautiful and historically meaningful plant in your own home? Come and grab your own piece of American history at the Grow Yourself Inside Houseplant Sale.
Event details:
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Location: Eisenhower Community Center, Hopkins
- Academy: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ($30 advance / $35 door)
- Houseplant Sale (FREE): 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Tickets & info: https://z.umn.edu/growyourselfinside
Stop by and grab one of the special Oval Office Swedish Ivy plants at our sale—we would love to see you there! The Sale is free and open to the public, registration for the Academy opens in September. Learn more at https://z.umn.edu/growyourselfinside
By Sue Schiess and Emma Berger