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Hedera helix
Also called Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy
Common ivy is a clinging evergreen climber that grows up trees, walls and fences, or spreads as groundcover where there is nothing to climb. It thrives in shade or part shade and moist soil, and needs something to climb or it will sprawl.
Hedera helix, simply ivy, or common ivy, English ivy, European ivy, or King's choice ivy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae. It is native to most of Europe and parts of western Asia. Ivy is a clinging evergreen vine that grows on tree trunks, walls, and fences in gardens, waste spaces, and wild habitats. Ivy is common as an ornamental plant, but escaped plants become naturalised outside its native range. Ivy has considerable cultural significance and symbolism.
Synonyms include Hedera acuta, Hedera arborea ('tree ivy'), Hedera baccifera, and Hedera grandifolia. Other common names are bindwood and lovestone.
Ivy is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Within its native range, the species is greatly valued for attracting wildlife. The flowers are visited by over 70 species of nectar-feeding insects, and the berries eaten by at least 16 species of birds. The foliage provides dense evergreen shelter, and is also browsed by deer.
In Europe, it is frequently planted to cover walls and the Bavarian government recommends growing it on buildings for its ability to cool the interior in summer, while providing insulation in winter, as well as protecting the covered building from soil moisture, temperature fluctuations and direct exposure to heavy weather. Further uses include weed suppression in plantings, beautifying unsightly facades and providing additional green by growing on tree trunks.
Ivy berries are somewhat poisonous to humans, but extracts from ivy leaves are part of current cough medicines. A 2020 evidence review found that H. helix preparations "may be a therapeutic option for treating early symptoms of respiratory tract infections", saying that "the best effectiveness for H. helix preparations has been proven for coughing, as an expectorant and to reduce the frequency and intensity of cough. Only weak evidence was found for all other researched symptoms." In the past, the leaves and berries were taken orally as an expectorant to treat cough and bronchitis. In 1597, the British herbalist John Gerard recommended water infused with ivy leaves as a wash for sore or watering eyes.
The leaves can cause severe contact dermatitis in some people. People who have this allergy (strictly a type IV hypersensitivity) are also likely to react to carrots and other members of the Apiaceae as they contain the same allergen, falcarinol.
The range of Hedera helix is from Ireland northeast to southern Scandinavia, south to Portugal, and east to Ukraine, Iran and northern Turkey. In Britain, it is very common and widespread, but absent from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
When used as a building façade, ivy provides both insulation and weather protection. Its roots dry the soil due to frequent need for water, inhibiting moisture on walls, but its robust self-climbing rootlets can be problematic if not managed correctly, causing damage to mortar and leaving permanent gaps on surfaces.
Algerian Ivy · Azores Ivy · Canary Ivy · Colchis ivy · Hedera crebrescens · Hedera cypria · Atlantic Ivy · Hedera iberica · Hedera maderensis · Hedera maroccana · Himalayan Ivy · Persian Ivy
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Hedera helix by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
