Hedera helix

Hedera helix

Common name:English ivy

Family: Araliaceae

Leaf: Juvenile leaves are thick, 3-5 lobed, dark green leaves, up to 4" long on non-flowering stems with adventitious roots, adults leaves are lobeless, elliptic-ovate, dark green leaves on rootless stems that do not spread or climb

Flowers: round, umbrella-like clusters of greenish-white flowers in early fall

Fruit: blue-black berries

Habit: vigorous, aggressive, fast-growing, woody evergreen perennial

Height: 50-100'

Culture: Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Very invasive and not advisable to plant in B.C and the Pacific Northwest, as it has spread to forests and spreads in them. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Plants propagate vegetatively or by seed. Birds help disperse the seeds. Spreading stems will root at the nodes where they touch the ground. Groundcovers may be trimmed on the edges with a spade or shears.

Uses: In other regions, it makes a great goundcover, trailing vines for fences, trellises or walls. Keep in mind ivy can deteriorate stone or brick of a house, and house various insects and rodents. smaller leaves varieties do well as houseplants, in containers, hanging baskets

Origin: Europe, Scandinavia, Russia