English Ivy

Hedera helix

White veined juvenile leaves are more lobed than mature leaves.

Plant Description

Evergreen vine with waxy leaves, long trailing stems, black berry-like fruits. Juvenile growth form is most common and have dull green lobed alternate leaves. Mature form has shiny unlobed leaves in whorl-like clusters with yellow green flowers in fall followed by purple-black berries in winter-spring. Climbing vines have rootlets that cling to almost any surface.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Vine
Habitats	Forests Gardens Little Habitats Residential yards
ODA Listing	B
Soil and Moisture Conditions	All soil types
Suggested Actions	Use BMPs to control on private property
Shade Preference	Full shade Part shade
Mature Height	90'
Distribution	found throughout the Pacific Northwest
Control	Physical removal is effective. Pry stems off tree trunks and cut at two heights so an ivy free band is created around the trunk. Upper vines will die over time. Roll back ivy from lower portion of tree, like rolling a carpet. These piles can be left to rot.
Disposal Methods	Can be disposed of in yard debris cart or left to rot in place.
Reproduction and Spread	The vines spread vegetatively through its clibming vines and through seeds eaten and passed predominantly by non-native bird species.
Look Alikes	Irish ivy (Hedera hibernica)
Impact	Berries are toxic to humans; invades native forest habitats where dense thickets suppress germination and growth of native trees and shrubs; can prevent surrounding plants from obtaining sufficient moisture. Ivy weighs down trees making them more likely to fall.
More Info	https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/english-ivy.aspx