Ivy
Botanical Name
Hedera helix
Family
Araliaceae (ivy)
Also known as
English ivy, many cultivars with different leaf shape and colouring
Where is it originally from?
Europe, North Africa, Tropical and Subtropical Asia
What does it look like?
Perennial climber with woody stout stems that become erect at flowering, attaching to whatever is supporting it with aerial rootlets. Hairless dark green or variegated ivory-white leaves (3-15 cm long) are arranged alternately on stems, and are variably shaped (usually shallowly lobed). Tiny, insignificant yellowish-green flowers (Mar-May) are sometimes followed by purple to black berries (5-8 mm diameter) containing seeds with low viability.
Are there any similar species?
Senecio mikanioides and Senecio angulatus, and Hedera canariensis are similar.
Why is it weedy?
Clings to and climbs almost any surface, can grow over forest floor, sub-canopy and canopy to great heights, forming dense, long-lived masses at a moderate to fast growth rate and completely smothering tree trunks and branches. Tolerates cold, damp, wind, salt, differing soil types, shade, damage, and drought.
How does it spread?
Birds readily spread seed when it is produced, but most spread is through pieces dumped with greenwaste. Gardens, roadsides, vacant land, and cemeteries are all sources of spread.
What damage does it do?
Smothers and kills all plants from ground level to canopy, destroys vulnerable epiphyte niches, and prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings. The weight of an infestation can bring down branches or whole trees. Invasion into established forest is slow but relentless through the ground or canopy.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Open lowland and montane forest and forest margins, rocky land, fernland, coastline, cliffs, shrublands, and tussockland.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Physically remove the plant by hand pulling or digging.
2. Cut and paste: Cut the stem/trunk as close to the ground as possible and cover the entire stump with herbicide as soon as possible after cutting. Apply glyphosate gel (120g/L strength) or metsulfuron gel (10g/L strength) to the entire cut stem.
3. Foliar spray -
Apply metsulfuron herbicide at a rate of 0.5g/L using a hand held sprayer/knapsack plus an organosilicone penetrant (3ml/L).
OR Apply triclopyr herbicide (600g/L active ingredient) at 6ml/L plus organosilicone penetrant (3ml/L).
OR Apply Picloram/triclopyr herbicide (picloram 100g/l and triclopyr 300g/l active ingredient) at 6ml/L plus organosilicone penetrant (3ml/L) to thoroughly wet all parts of plant.
Note: Overspray will kill other (desirable) broadleaf plants. Picloram and metsulfuron have residual activity in the soil which can leach through soil and kill other plants. Do not use under and around other (desirable) trees and broadleaf plants. Do not spray Ivy growing up tree trunks.
Do not use over water bodies or wetlands and use only as directed on label.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Stumps resprout and cut stems root at nodes. Many plants do not produce viable (or any) seed, but once established, ivy is hard to kill and dispose of. In damp areas growth on trees can survive for long periods after stump cut. However in most cases the vine dies, although slowly. For aerial growth on trees in wet areas, remove large stems gradually after cutting stump to minimise shock to host trees. In all other cases, leave stems to die on the tree. Always dry and burn or deep bury all cut stems or take them to a refuse transfer station.
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