Identification Look-Alikes Why English Ivy is Harmful Removing English Ivy Notes of Interest References & Acknowledgements

ENGLISH IVY Hedera helix Hedera is the Latin word for ivy; helix means winding around.

References and Acknowledgements

National Park Service. Helpful basic information. www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/hehe1.htm

The Nature Conservancy. Select Hedera helix from the list of invasive species. www.conserveonline.org/subjects/Invasive_Species__alien_non-indigenous_exotics_weeds_;internal&action=buildframes.action

Also see www.tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/products/show01.html

Parrish, John. Botanist who has made lists of the native plants in Sligo, which are available at www.fosc.org/PlantInventory.htm

Vogel, Mary. Member of the Maryland Native Plant Society who has organized groups to cut English ivy.

The Ivy Removal Project, or No Ivy League website based in Portland, Oregon. This is the best site on the web for English ivy. The situation in the northwest seems extreme, far worse than here. For an outstanding Power Point presentation on technique, click on Control Methods from the Home Page.
www.noivyleague.com/Pages/control_methods.html

King County Noxious Weed Control Program, Seattle, Washington. Select Hedera helix.
www.dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/lands/weeds/

Maryland Invasive Species Council. Contains a helpful article by our own Forest Ecologist, Carole Bergmann.
www.mdinvasivesp.org/archived_invaders_2004_02.html

University of Minnesota. Apparently no longer available, but contained an article by Okerman with reference to many scientific studies.
www.hort.agri.umn.edu/h5015/00papers/okerman.htm

North Carolina State University. Information on the used of weed killers on home property.
www.ces.ncsu.edu/alamance/gardening/2002/apr/7.html

Photos were taken in Sligo Creek Park by Sally Gagné, in 2003-4 unless otherwise stated. The photos of new ivy varieties are part of a News Release on the American Ivy Society website.

Umbrella plant and spring beauty, two native plants we need to save from English ivy.

An area above the Parkside Bridge was cleared of ivy in fall 2002. A number of species have filled in there now.

Back to top of page