English Ivy
Hedera helix
Ginseng family
Where is it from?
- English ivy is native to Europe.
Where are you likely to find it?
- English ivy can be found anywhere people have lived. It
is a popular landscaping plant.
- In Redwood National and State Parks, there are large
populations in Hiouchi, along Highways 101 and 199, Marshall
Pond (although now largely removed), the Klamath Youth Hostel,
Davison Ranch and roads to the Redwood Creek Trail and South
Operations Center.
What makes it a "BAD" plant?
- English ivy is one of the few exotics that can become
established and grow in deep shade.
- English ivy forms thick carpets on the forest floor and
chokes out native vegetation, including tree seedlings.
- It creeps up trees into the canopy, flowers and forms
berries. Birds eat the berries and disperse seeds to
other locations. Seedlings emerge and start new infestations.
- The vines weigh down tree branches causing them to break.
- English ivy is a threat to the integrity of the ancient
redwood forest.
How do you get rid of it?
- Cutting vines from trees will kill all ivy growing on the
tree.
- Stems and roots on the ground must be pulled and the area
watched for resprouts.
How committed are the parks to fighting ivy?
- Both the National Park Service (NPS) and California Department
of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) have provided grants in support
of efforts to control English ivy in the Redwood National and
State Parks. Click here
to learn about the project to remove ivy in the parks' North
District, mainly Hiouchi and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
What can you do to help?
- Report sightings near parks and other wild areas. If in a
park, contact the park Superintendent. If in the Redwood
National and State Parks, notify the Vegetation
Management branch at the South Operations Center in Orick
(707-464-6101, ext. 5282). Let us know about the location
of the plants so they can be mapped for future work projects.
- Discourage people from planting ivy in rural locations.
- To get even more involved in control of exotic species,
sign up as a Volunteer in Parks
(VIP).
- CAUTION: Do not remove ivy without permission in
writing or direction from the land owner, manager or, if
on public lands, an agency official.
