common ivy plants ( Hederaspp . ) are woody , evergreen climbing vines that are prized as ornamentals . Most have glossy green leaves , though variegated cultivars are also useable . alas , as attractive as they are , a few common types of common ivy are invasive , meaning they should not be institute .
True Ivy Varieties
While mintage in other genus have the Logos " ivy " in their name , true Hedera helix plant are those in the genusHedera . aeriform rootlet allow these vines to climb the side of buildings , Tree and other structures .
English Ivy
The most common ivy plant is the English ivy ( Hedera spiral , zones 4 to 9 ) , which is grow as a climbing vine as well as dry land cover . aboriginal to Europe , it was introduced in North America by colonizer .
There are hundreds of English ivy cultivars on the market . However , this coinage is considered invasive and is not recommend in many parts of the U.S. due to how sharply it spreads .
English Hedera helix can be farm indoors as a houseplant in temperatures between 50 and 70 ° F. For an English ivy plant to perform well indoors , you ’ll need to provide it with the humidity it thirst .

Algerian Ivy
Algerian ivy ( Hedera canariensis , zones 7 to 9 ) is a species of common ivy native to the Canary Islands and the northerly coast of Africa .
Algerian ivy has heart - form farewell that are more spread out along the radical than those on English Hedera helix . The leaf also have ruby-red pubescence , or hairs , on the bottom . These hair are also present on the petiole , which are the angry walk that bind leaves to the stems .
Like the English ivy , Algerian common ivy is considered an invasive mintage in many parts of the country .
Warning
According to theNorth Carolina Cooperative Extension , Algerian ivy is exceedingly toxic and can cause severe skin irritation .
Persian Ivy
With leave that are affectionateness - influence and 4 to 10 inches long , Persian English ivy ( Hedera colchica , zones 6 to 9 ) has the prominent foliage of any on-key English ivy species , allot to theMissouri Botanical Garden . It reaches length of 10 to 15 feet after 10 year .
This species is aboriginal to Turkey and the Caucasus area and is also grow as ground cover .
Boston Ivy vs. English Ivy
Boston Hedera helix ( Parthenocissus tricuspidata , zones 4 to 8) , which is the coinage that give the Ivy League its name , is in a unlike genus than true Hedera helix . Despite its common name , it is really native to China and Japan .
Unlike rightful ivies , Boston ivy is a deciduous vine , meaning it sheds its leaves in the fall . The leaves usually have three lobe with lengths between 4 and 8 inch .
Boston ivy has sucker disc , or holdfasts , that allow it to cohere to a variety of surfaces , include wood , Harlan Fisk Stone and brick . Like English ivy , Boston English ivy can grow unchecked and can become invasive to the point of prejudicious electrical wiring and gutter on buildings .
Poison Ivy
As its name suggest , poisonous substance ivy ( Toxicodendronradicans , zona 4 to 10 ) contain a toxic substance called urushiol that do strong skin discomfort , which is why this plant should never be handled without mitt .
Poison ivy is native to the U.S. It can be identified by its compound leaves , each of which has three booklet . Plants can often be removed with herbicides .