Hello to you and happy weekend!
Did you recognize the puzzler from last week? It is a vine that readily takes over anything and everything in its path.
I was at one of our local nurseries recently and was dismayed to find they were actually selling this plant. There was a sign beside it that said ‘to be used only in pots’, but really? I’m not sure everyone who buys this plant will stick to that suggestion.
It is of course, English Ivy, Hedora helix.
My husband and I have been trying to eradicate our property of this vine for years now. When we first moved here that was a beautiful archway that was covered in English ivy, and while it did look lovely, it was obvious to us that we could not allow it to keep living there, given that we were finding it EVERYWHERE in our woods.
Last fall we spent an entire day pulling this vine from in the forest beside the road and our mailbox. It was thick on the surface of everything and difficult to get it all. Now, months later, I can see some of it springing back to life there and if left untended, will surely take over again. By now it has probably jumped across the road and is marching up the neighbor’s properties. Planting it seems like a cruel thing to do to your unsuspecting neighbors, as eventually, it seems it will make its way into their yards too.
This vine is native to Europe and may have been brought to the United States many years ago as an ornamental vine. Granted, it IS an amazing ground cover that can grow in sun, part sun, shade and even heavy shade. Our property certainly proves that as I find it even in the woods where little sunlight penetrates the thick forest canopy. It is an interesting plant that has two distinct leaf shapes– un-lobed, oval leaves and leaves with 3 or 5 lobes.
Since this vine can cover literally everything in its path, it easily smothers native plants, killing wildflowers and seedlings before they have a chance. Then, it makes its way up tree trunks, preventing photosynthesis and causing limbs to die and break off. Eventually, this vine can kill the entire tree.
The best way to prevent all of this is to not plant it in the first place! But of course, it is already out in the world and may be too late to stop. On our property at least, we will continue to yank it from the ground, whenever we see it. Do you have any experience with this vine? Do you think nurseries should continue to sell it? If you have any comments, I would love to hear from you! Just use the comment box below and I will respond soon.
Ready for another puzzler? Our next one is not a vine, but a thorny shrub that has escaped from lawns everywhere.
Have a great weekend! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you Mothers out there!
Our association has a common area that we maintain. Part is grass, part is English Ivy, which has made it easy because we don’t really do anything with it.
A few months ago a neighbor had it mowed, and hundreds of ferns are up now, but the ivy is growing back. What will happen to the ferns? I remember some growing along with the ivy, but not this many.
Ivy is everywhere in this neighborhood and we are probably not going to keep this area mown. I might dig some up and transplant them.
Jock, yes, ivy grows freely in so many places. When I drive around some neighborhoods I see it on everything, in the yards of numerous houses and always marching on down the road. Like you said, it does make maintenance a breeze but if people like diversity and native plants and animals ivy is not the way to go! But in so many places it seems unstoppable. The ferns may be able to continue on there, but it’s hard to say for how long. Probably eventually the ivy will cover them and cause their decline and eventually, their death.
Thank you for posting this, Sharon. I am in a constant struggle to pull it out of our woods where it is strangling everything! Unfortunately, it is still being sold.
You are welcome Renee. I am with you in wanting the nurseries to stop selling it altogether but of course, there are too many who want this plant in their yard, despite the aggressive nature of it to take over. At least we can make a difference in our own yards. Thanks for caring!