English Ivy

English Ivy

English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a perennial vine native to Europe. It was introduced as an ornamental plant and was already naturalized in some areas by the 1870s. It is invasive in most of the United States, with the exception of Nevada and the plains states. English ivy competes with native plants in the understory and can also climb trees and spread into the canopy. Despite its tendency to escape cultivation and spread into the wild, English ivy is still sold in nurseries across the country.

Native Alternatives

Virginia Creeper

(Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Allegheny Spurge

(Pachysandra procumbens)

Heartleaf Ginger

(Hexastylis arifolia)

Canadian Wild Ginger

(Asarum canadense)