Ivy
| Botanical Name | Hedera helix ssp. helix |
|---|---|
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Origin | Europe, N. Africa, Tropical and Subtropical Asia |
Identification
Woody climber, stems up to 30 m long. Leaves dark green or variegated ivory white, palmately 5-lobed with 3-10 rayed star-shaped or scale-like hairs on young shoots. Common ivy has many distinctive forms varying in habit, leaf shape and colouring. Can be confused with the other subspecies canary ivy which is usually variegated and has star-shaped hairs and more rays on scale-like hairs of young stems and petioles. Leaves are shallowly palmately 3-lobed.Habitats
Forests and rocklands, shrublands, roadsides, exotic plantations, farm hedges, domestic gardens, rural areas. Occasional.Impact to Biota and Ecosystems
Potential to carpet forest floor and trees, beneath a light forest canopy. Capacity to establish in light to moderate shade forest and climb to the tops of the tallest forest trees. May smother epiphytic communities and overtop tree canopies. Specialised rockland plants are significantly impacted. If ivy was to spread into mature forest ecosystems then it may have a heavy impact on epiphytic plants that are uncommon, but less of an effect to common epiphytes or the tree species infested.Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation Sources
Not yet dispersed to any large bulking-up areas near to forests. Infestation sources are settlements, dwellings, vacant gullies of vegetated land in townships etc. Fruit dispersed by birds.Management
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Management |
|
| Physical Control |
Pull or dig out. |
| Disposal |
Mulch or compost but it can regrow from cut material. |
| Chemical Control |
(i) Cut stem and treat with herbicide mix. (ii) Spray with Tordon Brushkiller. Rate - Knapsack 60ml Brushkiller + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water. |
|
Biological Control |
|
| Recommended Approach |
Cut and paint wherever possible. |
Further Comment
For information on the poisonous properties of Ivy please refer to Environment Bay of Plenty's Fact Sheet on Poisonous Plants.