Hedera Helix - Ivy

Hedera Helix - Ivy

Hedera Helix is common all around Europe, I found this one just outside Piccadilly station, Ivy is a climbing plant that relies on another object or plant to grow up on, its capable of reaching heights of up to 20 meters high (rarely higher) it grows like this because it has aerial roots which cling to other surfaces and can be tough to pull off. Ivy can be a nuisance to gardeners because it grows rapidly and colonises.

It has pinnate leaves that have 5 lobes on each leaf.

Adult hedera don't have lobes anymore so the leaf becomes heart shaped.

The stems are smooth, shiny and fleshy, its colour can range from red to purple. Here are examples of its aerial roots systems.

When ivy reaches its maturity, its stems turn into trunks and its surfaces becomes covered with bark that has a rough and coarse texture.