English ivy is a name given to many vining plants , but usually to those belong to the botanical genus Hedera . Generally speaking , ivies get behind their stems across the ground and climb upward if supply support such as a tree , fence or wall . These plants also have two distinct ontogenesis periods . When juvenile their leaf are smaller and vines are slender and elongating ; when older and " fledged " they are much more ramification and bush - similar , grow tiny prime that yield black fruit .

Types

English ivy has about 10 coinage . Some of the more commonly regain ivies in garden configurations include Azores ivy ( Hedera azorica ) , Persian Hedera helix ( Hedera cochica ) , English ivy ( Hedera helix ) , Atlantic or Irish common ivy ( Hedera hibernica ) , and Japanese ivy ( Hedera rhombea ) . Among these species are evergreen , Sir Henry Joseph Wood - stemmed , tracking or self - clinging works .

Although called ground English ivy ( Glechoma hederacea ) or poison ivy ( genus Rhus radicans ) , these two " common ivy - like " plants are in dissimilar botanical genera , not closely pertain to lawful ivies . Boston ivy ( Parthenocissus tricuspidata ) also is not pertain .

Origins

English ivy are see growing naturally in undimmed , ethereal timber or rocky porta in forests in northern Africa , the Canary Islands and Azores , westerly Europe to the Himalayas and in China , Korea and Japan . None of common ivy are aboriginal to North America .

Foliage Characteristics

True ivies exhibit leaves arranged in an alternating pattern on their vining stem turn . The American Ivy Society uses the Pierot Classification System to categorize ivy plants based on their leaf Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . Ivy - type support " classical " leaves that are flat and have five pointy lobe . Heart - form types have sum - corresponding leaves or triangular leaves that comprise three lobes . Fan types educate broad , fan - comparable farewell with many pointy lobe of adequate length , almost looking like forward - face fingers . Bird ’s foot types have narrowly lobed leaf or willow - like leaves that lack lobes and curly character ivies have ruffle , guggle , or pleated leaves or leafage bound .

Health Concerns

As members of the aralia family ( Araliaceae ) , true ivy plants can cause dermatitis on skin if the sap is affect . Those with eye or respiratory allergic reaction can be exacerbate by the root hairs when walking in ivy patches or pulling their foliage and halt in garden sustenance undertaking . eat any part of ivy plants also lead to stern tum discomfort according to the " A - Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants . "

Invasiveness Insight

References

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