Hedera helix L.

English Ivy

Woody climber usually with aerial roots along the stems, older specimens becoming shrub-like. Leaves of variable shape, entire to 3-5-lobed. Flowers with 5 petals, greenish; summer. Fruit pale blue to black.

Europe, N Africa,W Asia

Naturalised near habitations in NSW and Vic.

This is one of two species that are more commonly cultivated in south-eastern Australia, the other species being H. hibernica.

A selection of cultivars has been listed under the Cultivars tab; others may be encountered.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Araliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

Updated by: Val Stajsic, July 2020

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Distribution map

Hedera helix 'Conglomerata'

Dwarf with leaves small, dark, leathery, crowded, wavy-edged and with prominent raised veins.

An old cultivar originating before 1871.

Hedera helix 'Dragon Claw'

Stems greenish purple. Leaves with lobes curled back.

Found in a park in Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 1970s.

Hedera helix 'Erecta'

A so-called candelabra ivy with self-supporting stems and cupped leaves.

Hedera helix 'Glacier'

Leaves marbled silver-grey.

Hedera helix 'Gold Dust'

Leaves small to medium,mottled pale green, stippled with yellow. ['Luzii' ]

Now intergrades with other cultivars and is hardly distinct.

Hedera helix 'Ivalace'

Upright at first. Leaves glossy bronze-green with crimped margins and yellow venation.

Hedera helix 'My Heart'

Plants under this name are probably H. helix 'Ovata' with unusual rounded leaves. ['Mein Herz']

Originating in Denmark before 1925.

Hedera helix 'Pin Oak'

Trailer with small, crowded, deeply cut, pale green leaves on purplish stems.

Hedera helix 'Pittsburgh'

Miniature with glossy green leaves and yellowish veins.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Apiales
family       Araliaceae
genus        Hedera L.