English Ivy is a high-climbing evergreen vine introduced as an ornamental from Europe. Commonly escaping from cultivation, it is nearly impossible to eradicate once established and is one of the worst invasive weed problems in North Carolina. It aggressively spreads into native forests by seed or vegetatively, where it smothers tall trees as well as the forest floor, preventing native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees from sprouting.

Two other ivies sometimes escape from cultivation in NC: Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica), which has larger, rounded leaves, and Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica), which has lighter green leaves, not-as-pale veins and usually does not climb.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.

Climbing up a Willow Oak tree.

The dark green leaves have pale veins and are malodorous when crushed.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.

Spring foliage emerging.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.