Araliaceae

Hedera helix

Common Names: English ivy.

Plant Form: Climbing or creeping vine. Size: Climbs up to 30 m high. Stem: Wiry, green to brown, sometimes thicker stems woody with age. Leaves: Highly variable 3-5 lobed dark green waxy leaves. Flowers: Umbrella-like clusters of small greenish-white flowers. Often absent unless sufficient sun. Fruit and Seeds: Berry like purplish to black with fleshy outer covering. Containing one to several stone like seeds. Habitat: Forests, rainforest, gullies, neglected land. Distinguishing Features: Almost impossible to distinguish from other ivy (Hedera species) and horticultural varieties. Impacts: Aggressively smothers, shades out and outcompetes native species. Toxic leaves and berries. Pollen can be irritant.

Grows on ground and on tree trunks

Lower leaves are star-shaped

Upper leaves are rounded

Flowers are in heads