One of my neighborhood strolls takes me past a small wild area. There are no homes around it and yet English ivy is growing all along the ground and up several trees. Another walk takes me past a beautiful spring-flowering tree tree that is absolutely covered in English ivy. It’s wound throughout all the branches all the way to the crown. I’ve even found a tendril growing into one of my raised beds. How on earth English ivy found its way into this area of my garden I do not know. It doesn’t seem to have come from my neighbor. And it’s a strange place for it to have been planted deliberately by the previous owner. Wherever it came from, English ivy, also known as common ivy, European ivy, and simply ivy is invasive in North America.

What’s interesting is that despite being labeled as invasive in both the United States and Canada, English ivy is still sold at many garden centers and nurseries. English Ivy is an innocuous houseplant with tendrils that cascade over the side of a pot or hanging basket. It’s also pretty easy to care for. The purpose of this article, however, is to explain why it’s bad to plant English ivy in a garden where it can choke out other groundcovers and perennials, and ensnare trees and shrubs.

Where does English ivy come from?

English ivy (Hedera helix) is native to the United Kingdom and most of Europe, as well as parts of western Asia and northern Africa. Plants can reach about 6 inches (15 cm) tall, but their spread is aggressive.

The plant was brought to North America in the 1800s by settlers who probably wouldn’t have realized the damage an invasive plant like English ivy can cause once it’s unleashed in a garden. This woody perennial vine has been favored for its leaves that stay green in the winter and for it’s incredible spreading abilities. There are now numerous cultivars.

Why is English ivy so bad in North America?

While English ivy has traditionally been recommended as a fast-growing groundcover, that is precisely what makes it so bad. First of all, the perennial does well in pretty much any type of soil and can adapt to many growing conditions. If it climbs up a building it can damage mortar and bricks. It can also weigh down wooden fences.

But even worse is if English ivy escapes into a woodland. The plant will create such a dense carpet that it denies sunlight to other plants and can choke out a species entirely.

Because of its climbing habit, ivy will completely engulf a tree if you let it. Sticky rootlets attach themselves to the bark of the trunk and can spread upwards of 100 feet (30 meters) into the tree canopy. On the ground, the dense foliage can prevent tree seedlings from growing. The weight of the vines can lead to winter damage. The plant can also carry a disease that is harmful to oak, maple, and elm trees. Needless to say, English ivy is extremely detrimental to both gardens and wild spaces.

Can I plant English ivy in containers?

The short answer is no. While planting ivy in a pot may seem like a good way to still give this plant a place in the garden, what happens if it gets thrown in the compost by accident? Once the plant starts to produce flowers, birds can spread the seeds. However much we love plants like this, because of nostalgia or simply aesthetics (English ivy is dependably evergreen), there are some plants that are best left on the shelf at the nursery. This also sends a message that this is not a plant that gardeners want on their property.

What can I plant instead?

Where I live, there is an awareness program produced by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council with a publication called Grow Me Instead. It offers native alternatives for a whole host of invasive plants. Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is recommended as a groundcover swap in this instance. In California, alumroot (Heuchera micrantha or Heuchera maxima) is a recommended substitute. Find a website that provides suggestions for your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Network of Nature are two sites I use often.

How do I get rid of English ivy plants?

It’s worth noting that both the leaves and the fruit of English ivy are toxic to humans. In fact, not a single North American animal considers English ivy food. As some people’s skin can react negatively to the sap from English ivy, be sure to pull on some gardening gloves before dealing with it.

In hard-packed soil, English ivy can be tricky to remove, but a trowel can help break up the dirt allowing you to pull out the vine by the leaves. I always try to time my garden weeding after a heavy rainfall when the moist soil is more forgiving. Pruners can help to cut away excess bits of plant to find where it comes out of the ground. Stems can become quite thick as they age!

After weeding, sheet mulching the area can smother any bits you may have missed or suppress any unwanted seedlings. With trees, I would recommend consulting an arborist, depending on the severity of the vine’s spread.

Avoiding invasive plants like English ivy and focusing instead on native plants will help preserve our local ecosystems.

Native plants to consider growing in the garden

• Prairie smoke
• Liatris
• Meadow grasses
• Asters
• Spotted bee balm
• Four native shrub suggestions