Common Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy

Hedera helix

Hedera helix

Description

Common Ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing plant and can grow up to 30 meters high.

It grows either creeping on the ground or climbing up trees, bushes or walls. Aerial roots are developed for attachment.

Young plants differ from the adult ones by the shape and colouring of their leaves. In addition, the shoots of adult specimens are woody.

Hedera helix can become several hundred years old. Since it flowers from late summer to autumn, it is an important source of food for insects. It can provide shelter and nesting space for birds. Blackbirds like to eat its berries.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the berries. Contact with the plant sap can lead to allergic reactions.

In everyday life with Common Ivy, its poisonousness is not a problem if it is not stroked like a cat. If you always wear gloves when working in the garden, you have nothing to fear anyway.

Hedera helix

Countries

Northern Europe: Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden
Central Europe: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary
Eastern Europe: Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus
Southeastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
Southwestern Europe: France, Portugal, Spain

Apart from Europe, Common Ivy is also native to North Africa, the Caucasus and Western Asia. As an introduced species it can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Hedera helix

Uses

Ivy is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant. It makes a good ground cover in the garden and can also be cultivated as a potted plant on the balcony or indoor.

Hedera helix

Pollinators

Honey bees, wild bees, wasps, hornets, hoverflies, flies, butterflies, beetles

Common names

Dutch
Klimop

French
Lierre, Lierre Grimpant

German
Efeu, Gemeiner Efeu, Gewöhnlicher Efeu

Italian
Edera comune

Portuguese
Hera

Spanish
Hiedra común, hiedra arbórea, hiedra, yedra arbórea, yedra común, yedra

Common Ivy leaves
Common Ivy adult leaves
Common Ivy aerial roots
Common Ivy aerial roots
Common Ivy ground cover
Common Ivy ground cover

Categories: Shrubs & Trees | Vine |

More species from the Araliaceae family