You’ve seen it. Even if you didn't know what it was, you’ve definitely seen it. Tucked right there on the white marble mantel of the Oval Office, usually framing the head of a world leader or a sitting president, is a bushy, scalloped-leaf plant.
It’s the Swedish ivy White House legend.
Most people focus on the Resolute Desk or the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington. But for over 50 years, this specific houseplant—Plectranthus verticillatus—was arguably the most powerful piece of foliage on the planet. It sat through the Cold War, witnessed the signing of historic peace treaties, and survived the shifting tastes of twelve different administrations.
Then, in early 2025, it vanished.
The empty spot on the mantel was replaced by gold artifacts, and the internet basically had a collective heart attack. But the story of the Swedish ivy isn't just about a plant moving to a greenhouse. It’s about a living heirloom that somehow became a symbol of American political continuity.
The Kennedy Myth vs. The Cold Reality
If you ask Bill Clinton where the plant came from, he’d tell you it was a 1961 gift to John F. Kennedy from the Irish Ambassador, Thomas J. Kiernan. It’s a great story. It links the "Camelot" era to a token of international friendship.
There’s just one problem: it might not be true.
👉 See also: How is gum made? The sticky truth about what you are actually chewing
Historians at the JFK Library have combed through the archives and found... nothing. No mention of an Irish ivy gift. In fact, most photos of the Oval Office from the early 60s show grape ivy or philodendrons. The Swedish ivy doesn't start making regular cameos in official photos until the Gerald Ford era in the mid-70s.
Betty Ford was a big fan of bringing "real" life into the White House. It’s widely believed she’s the one who actually cemented its place on the mantel.
But wait, there’s another twist. Irvin Williams, the legendary White House Chief Horticulturist who served from 1962 to 2008, once mentioned they started using Swedish ivy "experimentally" because it was so tough. The Oval Office fireplace is a brutal environment for a plant. It’s hot, the air is dry, and the lighting is weird. This plant didn't just survive; it thrived under pressure. Sorta like a metaphor for the job itself, right?
It’s Neither Swedish Nor Ivy
Botanically speaking, the name is a total lie.
- It’s not from Sweden: It’s native to South Africa and Australia.
- It’s not an ivy: It’s actually a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).
- The "Swedish" part: It only got that nickname because it became a wildly popular houseplant in Sweden during the Victorian era before making its way to the States.
The plant produces these tiny, delicate white or pale purple flowers, but it’s mostly grown for those thick, waxy green leaves. In the White House, the "look" of the ivy changed depending on who was in charge.
During the Reagan and George H.W. Bush years, the plant was kept tightly pruned and formal. When Jimmy Carter was in office, it was allowed to grow a bit shaggier and more "wild." Donald Trump, during his first term, had the plant split into two smaller, symmetrical pots. Barack Obama actually swapped it out for grape ivy for a brief period, but the Swedish ivy eventually reclaimed its throne.
✨ Don't miss: Curtain Bangs on Fine Hair: Why Yours Probably Look Flat and How to Fix It
The Most Distributed Plant in America?
Here is the part that most people find incredible. The plant on the mantel isn't just one plant. It’s a lineage.
For decades, the White House horticultural staff—led for years by Dale Haney—maintained a rotation. There are dozens of these plants living in the White House greenhouses at any given time. When the one in the Oval Office starts looking a little "tired" from the lack of natural light, they swap it out for a fresh one from the greenhouse.
But the tradition went deeper.
For years, it was a quiet "insider" perk for departing staffers, interns, and visiting dignitaries to be given a small cutting of the Swedish ivy White House plant. Because it’s so easy to propagate—you basically just stick a stem in a glass of water and wait—these "presidential clippings" have spread across the country.
I’ve heard stories of former aides who have entire sunrooms filled with descendants of the JFK (or Ford) ivy. One former Obama staffer reportedly kept a spreadsheet of everyone he gave a cutting to, ensuring the "lineage" stayed alive. It’s a living piece of history you can grow on a windowsill.
Why the Removal in 2025 Sparked a Row
In February 2025, eagle-eyed observers noticed the ivy was gone. In its place stood seven gleaming gold objects, including a 19th-century French bronze basket.
🔗 Read more: Bates Nut Farm Woods Valley Road Valley Center CA: Why Everyone Still Goes After 100 Years
Some saw it as a break from a half-century of tradition. Others shrugged it off as a simple redecoration. After all, every president has the right to change the "vibe" of their office. But for plant enthusiasts and historians, the ivy represented a rare constant in a town that changes every four to eight years.
The good news? The plant isn't dead.
The White House confirmed the ivy was simply moved back to the greenhouse. It’s "resting." Given its history of being swapped in and out, there is a very high probability that a future administration—or even a later stage of the current one—will bring the green back to the mantel.
How to Grow Your Own "Presidential" Ivy
You don't need a security clearance to grow this. Honestly, it’s one of the easiest plants for beginners because it’s so dramatic—when it’s thirsty, the leaves go limp, then they "pop" back up within an hour of watering.
Light and Water Requirements
- Light: It loves bright, indirect light. In the Oval Office, it survived on supplemental light and the occasional "vacation" to the greenhouse, but in your house, a north or east-facing window is perfect.
- Soil: Use a standard potting mix. It hates "wet feet," so make sure the pot has a drainage hole.
- Water: Wait until the top inch of soil feels dry. If you overwater it, the stems will turn to mush.
The Propagation Trick
If you want to share the "history" like White House staffers do, just snip a 4-inch piece of the stem. Pull off the bottom leaves so you have a bare "node" (the bump where the leaf was). Drop it in a jar of filtered water. In about two weeks, you’ll see white roots. Once those roots are an inch long, pot it in soil. Boom. You’ve just started your own legacy.
Moving Forward with the Green Legacy
The Swedish ivy White House tradition reminds us that even in the highest halls of power, there’s a place for something simple and living. While the mantel might look different today, the "mother" plants are still growing just a few hundred yards away in the executive greenhouses.
To keep this piece of history alive in your own space, focus on consistent pruning. If you let it get too "leggy," the stems become bare and woody. Pinching off the tips every few months encourages the plant to grow bushier and fuller—exactly how it looked during the high-stakes meetings of the 1990s. Whether it returns to the Oval Office next year or in four years, the Swedish ivy remains a quiet, green witness to American history.