How Does English Ivy Grow?

English ivy climbs buildings, trees and other vertical surfaces.

English ivy, or Hedera helix, is a plant originally native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. This plant was brought to North America as a landscaping plant, but quickly escaped into the wild. This fast-growing, viney plant is still used as a landscaping accent in gardens and along walls and trees, but can cause problems in the wild. Knowing the growth pattern of English ivy can help you decide whether it's the right choice for your home planting.

Appearance

This plant is a perennial evergreen vine with large, shiny green leaves. It grows up to 90 feet high with appropriate support. The juvenile form of the plant has three- to five-lobed leaves with very thin stems, while adult plants have no lobes to their leaves and thicker woody stems. In the fall, mature plants produce small flowers and black or dark blue fruit.

Habitat

English ivy is a prolific plant that tolerates a wide range of conditions. It grows along the edges of forests, in woodlands, along hedgerows, in fields and in upland regions, but does not do well in very moist conditions. English ivy prefers land that has been disturbed by humans. On forest floors, it grows into a thick carpet, making it a popular choice for ground covers. When it can access a tree, pole or building, this plant climbs great distances, sometimes completely covering the support. English ivy tolerates a wide range of temperatures, enabling it to grow where winter temperatures are above -20 degrees F.

Warning

This plant becomes invasive quickly in North American forests, covering the ground and choking out low-lying native plants. It also climbs trees, shading leaves and causing branches to die back. In severe cases, English ivy can kill an entire tree. Few animals eat English ivy, though some birds do eat the berries. When grown close to a house, English ivy is known to damage brick and siding-covered buildings, as well as remove paint from wood. If this plant gets out of control, it takes over large areas of the landscape.

Considerations

English ivy seeds grow in many different environments, including shady areas, full sun, dry climates and salty soils. This durability makes it a useful choice for landscapes where other plants fail to grow, but can cause it to be a problem when conditions are highly favorable. When possible, choose alternative groundcovers and vining plants that are native to your area -- and less likely to damage buildings and other structures.

References

• Plant Conservation Alliance; English Ivy; Jil M. Swearingen et al
• Clemson University; Ivy; Marjan Kleupfel et al; May 1999
• Oregon State University; English Ivy; September 2008
• Virginia Tech; English Ivy; Alex X. Niemiera
• University of Florida; English Ivies to Know and Grow; R.W. Henley et al; October 2003
• University of Tennessee; English Ivy; Becky Koepke-Hill et al