Common ivy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Hedera helix

Adult leaves and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Araliaceae
Genus:	Hedera
Species:	H. helix
Binomial name
*Hedera helix* L.

Hedera helix, also known as common ivy or English ivy, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Araliaceae family. This plant is originally from most of Europe and western Asia. Ivy is a fast-growing, clinging evergreen vine. You can often see it in gardens, on house walls, and climbing up tree trunks. In some places where it has been introduced, it is considered an invasive species.

What's in a Name?
Other Names for Ivy
How Ivy Looks and Grows
Where Ivy Grows Naturally
Growing and Using Ivy
- Old Uses of Ivy
Ivy as an Invasive Species
Controlling and Removing Ivy
Damage to Trees
Damage to Buildings
Images for kids
See also

What's in a Name?

The name Hedera is the general term for ivy plants. The second part of its scientific name, helix, comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning "twist" or "turn". This makes sense because ivy plants twist and turn as they grow and climb!

Other Names for Ivy

Sometimes, Hedera helix is called by other names. These include Hedera acuta, Hedera arborea (which means "tree ivy"), Hedera baccifera, and Hedera grandifolia. People also simply call it English Ivy, Bindwood, or Lovestone.

How Ivy Looks and Grows

Common ivy is an evergreen climbing plant. It can grow very tall, reaching up to 20 to 30 meters (about 65 to 100 feet) high. It climbs on surfaces like trees, cliffs, and walls. If there are no tall surfaces, it spreads out as groundcover. Ivy climbs using special aerial rootlets. These roots have sticky pads that help the plant cling strongly to whatever it is climbing on.

The leaves of ivy are about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They have two main shapes. Young ivy plants have five-lobed leaves, like a hand with fingers spread out. These are found on the climbing stems. Older, mature ivy plants, especially those in full sunlight, have unlobed, heart-shaped leaves. These are on the stems that produce flowers.

Ivy flowers appear from late summer to late autumn. They are small, greenish-yellow, and grow in round clusters. These flowers are full of nectar. This makes them a very important food source for bees and other insects late in the year.

The fruit of the ivy plant are small berries, about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. They can be purple-black or orange-yellow. The berries ripen in late winter. Many birds eat these berries, making them an important food source. However, the berries are somewhat poisonous to humans. Each berry usually has one to five seeds. Birds help spread these seeds when they eat the berries.

There are three main types, or subspecies, of Hedera helix:

Hedera helix subsp. helix: Found in central, northern, and western Europe. These plants do not have underground stems called rhizomes. Their ripe fruit are purple-black.
Hedera helix subsp. poetarum: Found in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. These also do not have rhizomes. Their ripe fruit are orange-yellow.
Hedera helix subsp. rhizomatifera: Found in southeast Spain. These plants do have rhizomes. Their ripe fruit are purple-black.

Other similar ivy species, like Hedera canariensis and Hedera hibernica, are sometimes thought to be types of H. helix. However, they have different numbers of chromosomes. This means they don't easily hybridize (mix genes) with H. helix. You can often tell H. helix apart by its smaller, more deeply lobed leaves.

Where Ivy Grows Naturally

Common ivy grows naturally across a wide area. This includes Ireland in the northwest, southern Scandinavia in the northeast, and south to Portugal. It also extends east to Ukraine and Iran and northern Turkey. It usually doesn't grow in very cold places. In the west and southwest, other types of ivy take its place.

Growing and Using Ivy

Ivy is often grown as an ornamental plant because it looks nice. In places where it grows naturally, it's very helpful for attracting wildlife. Over 70 types of insects that feed on nectar visit its flowers. At least 16 types of birds eat its berries. The thick leaves also provide a safe, green shelter for animals. Deer sometimes eat the leaves too.

However, ivy can grow very quickly in gardens. It can take over hedges, trees, and flower beds if not controlled. It can even spread into lawns. Many different types of ivy, called cultivars, have been created. These have special features like yellow, white, or variegated (multi-colored) leaves. Some have deeply lobed leaves, purple stems, or grow very slowly.

Some popular ivy types have won awards for being great garden plants. These include 'Glacier', 'Goldchild', and 'Parsley Crested'.

Old Uses of Ivy

In the past, people used ivy leaves and berries as medicine. They would take them by mouth to help with coughs and bronchitis. In the late 1500s, a British plant expert named John Gerard suggested using water mixed with ivy leaves to wash sore eyes.

It's important to know that ivy leaves can cause a skin rash in some people. This is a type of allergic reaction. People who are allergic to ivy might also react to carrots. This is because both plants contain a similar natural chemical called falcarinol.

Ivy as an Invasive Species

Like many other plants not native to an area, ivy has mostly been spread by people. H. helix is considered an invasive species in many parts of the United States. In some states, like Oregon, it is even against the law to sell or bring in ivy.

Ivy is very good at adapting to new places. It can grow well wherever the conditions are similar to its home in Europe. It is believed that birds helped spread ivy across Europe after the last ice age.

Ivy in Australia

In southern Australia, especially the southeast, ivy is seen as a harmful weed. Local councils often provide information and help to remove it. In some areas, selling the plant is illegal. It is a known weed in the Australian state of Victoria.

Ivy in New Zealand

Since 1990, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand has listed H. helix as an "environmental weed."

Ivy in the United States

In the United States, H. helix is considered a weed or invasive plant in many areas. It is on the official noxious weed lists in Oregon and Washington. Like other invasive vines, such as kudzu, ivy can grow so much that it chokes out other plants. It can create "ivy deserts" where only ivy grows. Efforts are being made to remove ivy from forests in the Pacific Northwest and the Southern United States. As mentioned, selling or importing ivy is banned in Oregon. Ivy can easily escape from gardens and spread into nearby parks and natural areas.

Controlling and Removing Ivy

It's best not to plant or encourage English Ivy in places where it is known to be invasive. Once it has taken hold, it is very hard to control or get rid of. If it's not actively managed, it will often crowd out all other plants, including shrubs and trees.

Damage to Trees

Ivy can climb high into the branches of young or small trees. It can grow so thickly that the weight of the ivy causes the trees to fall over. This usually doesn't happen in places where ivy grows naturally. However, ivy can also harm large, mature trees in other ways. It can kill trees by "girdling" them, which means wrapping tightly around the trunk and cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. Ivy also competes with trees for water and nutrients.

You can see this happening when mature trees die even without bending from the ivy's weight. Ivy forms a thick mat on the tree trunk and around its base. This can create a damp environment that attracts organisms that damage the bark. Ivy stems growing on the ground can also wrap tightly around the base of a tree. As the tree grows, these stems can squeeze it, cutting into its important tissues.

Because of this, it's very important to remove ivy not just from the tree trunk, but also from the ground around its base. Creating an "ivy-free ring" around trees helps them survive. When ivy grows very densely, it can destroy natural habitats for wildlife. It creates large areas where no other plants can grow.

Damage to Buildings

Ivy covering old buildings can look very charming. It might even help insulate the building. However, it can cause problems if not managed carefully. Ivy, especially European ivy (H. helix), grows extremely fast. It clings to walls using tiny root-like structures along its stems. These are very hard to remove. They can leave an ugly "footprint" on walls and might require expensive repairs.

Also, ivy can quickly grow into gutters and under roof tiles. It can lift tiles and cause blockages. It can also provide shelter for mice and other unwanted creatures. To get rid of ivy on buildings, you need to cut the plants at the base. Then, you must dig out or kill the stumps to stop them from growing back.