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: (2002). Araliaceae. In: . 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
Dwarf with leaves small, dark, leathery, crowded, wavy-edged and with prominent raised veins.
An old cultivar originating before 1871.
Stems greenish purple. Leaves with lobes curled back.
Found in a park in Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 1970s.
A so-called candelabra ivy with self-supporting stems and cupped leaves.
Leaves marbled silver-grey.
Leaves small to medium,mottled pale green, stippled with yellow. ['Luzii' ]
Now intergrades with other cultivars and is hardly distinct.
Upright at first. Leaves glossy bronze-green with crimped margins and yellow venation.
Plants under this name are probably H. helix 'Ovata' with unusual rounded leaves. ['Mein Herz']
Originating in Denmark before 1925.
Trailer with small, crowded, deeply cut, pale green leaves on purplish stems.
Miniature with glossy green leaves and yellowish veins.