English Ivy

English Ivy is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.¹⁰ It was brought over from Europe as an ornamental plant and has become invasive.⁶ It can be found in both the eastern and western coasts of the U.S.⁷ It has become a very invasive species in the Pacific Northwest.²

Distribution of English Ivy in the U.S.

It is a very difficult species in many different ways. For one thing, it is a vine that is also ground cover.¹ When it climbs up on trees it can block the light for its branches and also can become too heavy for the tree and bring it down.³ 

English ivy growing on a tree

When it is ground cover it will take over and replace other plants that normally grow as ground cover.⁵ It grows everywhere because of the cement like substance that allows it to stick to trees and other surfaces.¹ And where it grows it blocks out light and doesn't allow other plants to grow in its shadow.¹⁰
It is very good at growing in low light conditions and only needs high light to flower.⁶ This means that in the Pacific Northwest it will only get that amount of light once it reaches the tops of trees.