Plant Min Zone: 4a
Plant Max Zone: 9b
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade, Deep Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average, High
Soil Quality: Poor, Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Insignificant
Flower Color: Insignificant
Berry / Fruit Color: Green, Black
Spring Foliage Color: Dark Green
Summer Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fall Foliage Color: Dark Green
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Medium
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils, Rocky Soils
Height: 1' - 25'
Width: 2' - 3'
Growth Rate: Medium
Service Life: Extremely long: over 20 years
Maintenance Need: High
Spreading Potential: High
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Vines as Needed / Training May be Needed.
Plant Grouping Size: Mass Planting of 10 or more
Best Side of House: South Exposure, East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Root-Bound Soils Under Tree, Survives Under Roof Overhang
Ornamental Features: Other Features not listed
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover, Erosion Control, Noise / Wind Screening
Possible Pest Problems: Deer, Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: Aggressive Rhizomes / Runners, May get Occasional Winter-kill, Overused in the Landscape, Needs Frequent Pruning / Trimming, May be Poisonous
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is planted for its evergreen dark green foliage. This is one of the most deep shade tolerant plants available. It makes a durable evergreen groundcover that starts off slow, but grows quickly after a few years to forms a dense, weed-smothering mat of foliage. As one of the most dry-shade tolerant plants there is, it's thick leathery leaves seem to handle everything nature has to throw at it! That being said, beware that this is an extremely vigorous plant that crowds out most weeds and is itself weed-like, with a very spreading growth habit. After establishment, it is high maintenance if it has already filled the space and you don't want it to spread any further: it even resists Round-up! It will climb trees if you allow it, generally using it for support to allow its mature form to develop and flowering to occur. For the home garden, the species is generally too aggressive to mix with other plants. We have more requests on "how to eradicate it" than "wanting to purchase it".