Ivy (Hedera species)

Species include:

• English Ivy (Hedera helix) also called common ivy
• Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica) also called Atlantic ivy

Ivy is a plant that many people seem to love. But it’s really a plant that people should think twice about planting. While it is often grown as an ornamental groundcover, its ability to escape home gardens and dominate habitats makes it sinister in parks, natural areas, and forests. Because of their similar appearance and environmental impact, English and Irish ivy are often described together and controlled in the same manner. 

Description:

Habitat:

• It prefers moist soils in areas with summer shade and winter sunlight.
• It grows in a variety of landscapes including woodlands, forests, riparian areasRiparian Areas Areas of land that occur along the edges of rivers, streams, lakes, and other bodies of water., and urban areas.

Impact:

• It quickly outcompetes native plants for light, nutrients, soil, and space creating “ivy deserts.”
• Its shallow roots increase the chance greater chances of erosion, as deep-rooted native plants are replaced by the shallower rooted ivy.
• Trees covered in ivy are at risk of being toppled, due to the immense weight of the vines.
• Consuming large amounts of leaves and fruits can be mildly toxic to people and cattle.

What you can do about it:

• Manual treatment is labor intensive, but if done correctly, can prove effective and fulfilling.
• Plants are easier to pull out of the ground when the soil is damp from rain. In Washington County, fall through spring is a great time to remove it.
• To control ground ivy, pull vines from one end and begin rolling it into a ball. Make sure to place the vines onto a tarp to dry out completely and prevent re-rooting. Once vines are dry, they will not be able to re-establish and can be composted on site.
• In the case of climbing ivy, cut its stems at chest height down to the base of the tree, creating a gap on the tree trunk. It will take some time, but the remaining stems will slowly die and fall off. Do not pull the remaining vines from the tree as this can dislodge branches and damage bark.

Look-Alikes:

Ivy is often confused with another weed, old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba). Old man’s beard has very different leaves and flowers. Old man’s beard’s flowers are larger and white, whereas ivy’s flowers are green.

Noxious Weed Listing:

More Resources:

• Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook: Common or English ivy
• University of California, Weed Research & Information Center: English, Algerian, and Atlantic ivy