Office plant potted 15 years ago grows into 300-foot beast, is named after ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ character

An office plant potted 15 years ago has grown into a 300ft beast — and is now nicknamed ‘Audrey II’ from The Little Shop of Horrors.

Bosses Allie Brennan, 52, and husband, Des, 58, initially bought the ivy from B&Q for their bathroom at home.

But due to the plant’s ‘rapid growth’ they were left with ‘no other option’ but to take it to work.

Now, more than 15 years later, the plant has grown to ‘well-over’ 300 feet long — sprouting new shoots to pin up across the office walls and ceiling “every day.”

Managing Director Des said: “The ivy goes wherever it wants too. It even dips down onto our desks before it returns back to the ceiling.”

The impressive plant hangs from computer monitors, down to employee desks and on the ceiling – and even has its own sponsorship deal.

The ivy grows at a stellar rate of six inches per month at Protective Solutions Ltd in Stonehouse, Glos. — the packaging company Des founded in 2006.

The plant even has a sponsor — garden center ‘Gardening naturally’ based in Highworth.

Des says it provides everything the plant demands ‘free of charge’ — including food, extra pots and so on.

Des said: “The ivy is quite a celebrity and well-known by our regular customers who come into the office. 

“At Christmas we hung 3,500 lights from it plus decorations.”

PSL packaging company pride themselves on being ‘very focused on our environment and the impact on our planet’.

Des added: “We only buy from companies who are FSC Certified or working towards.

“Where possible we are always keen to offer recycled or biodegradable products to all our customers.”

Des explains how their impressive ivy is symbolic of the companies’ environmental commitments.

He explained: “When we have customers visit our premises to talk about their packaging and the impact to the environment, and the damage their current packaging is causing — our ivy shows them we care.

“The Ivy is a great talking point which normally brings us on to our electric company cars and our 100% zero to landfill.”