A vigorous evergreen woody vine from Europe, widely grown for cover on walls and as a houseplant, but invasive in parts of North America and Australia.
Description
English ivy climbs by aerial rootlets and produces three- to five-lobed glossy leaves. When mature it changes form, growing unlobed leaves and small green-yellow flower clusters followed by black berries.
Cultivation
Hardy, shade tolerant, and quick to spread, ivy thrives in many soils. It is a beautiful clothing for walls and shaded ground but must be controlled to prevent smothering trees.
Uses
A symbol of fidelity in classical lore and a fixture of European architecture, English ivy is also a long-popular hanging houseplant in dozens of leaf-shape cultivars.