Pollinator plant

common ivy

Hedera helix

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Common names

19 names

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

English
Dutch
French
  • lierre d'Europe[4]
German
Italian
  • edera comune[4]
Portuguese
Spanish
  • hiedra[4]
  • Hiedra euroasiática[4]
  • hiedra terrestre[4]
  • hiedra trepadora[4]

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Hedera helix — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Common Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Baltic Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Branching Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • California Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • English Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Glacier Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Hahn's Self Branching English Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Needlepoint Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(8); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
  • Sweetheart Ivy — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(9); heading: Common Name(s):; Hedera helix.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common ivy — Page 2, column 1, row top 97 pt; common-name cell after Hedera helix.; Hedera helix.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common ivy — Page 2, column 2, row top 292 pt; common-name cell after Hedera helix.; Hedera helix.
[4] Hedera helix — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common ivy — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • Efeu — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • English ivy — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • hiedra — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • Hiedra euroasiática — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • hiedra terrestre — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • hiedra trepadora — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • lierre d'Europe — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • edera comune — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • Bonte klimop — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • klimop — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
  • hera — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55882; Hedera helix.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Hedera helix is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Araliaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
6.1–24.54 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.91–15.24 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Ascending; Climbing; Creeping; Prostrate

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe, Scandinavia east to Russia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Hedera helix in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

common ivy (Hedera helix) is a climbing plant. It flowers from September to November.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Hedera helix — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2216523; ID 6LH6Y; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2216523; ID 6LH6Y; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Hedera helix — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Hedera helix (top 292 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Hedera helix (top 97 pt)

    Source checked on .