The deceptive beauty of English ivy

Introduced into the United States about 200 years ago, English ivy is a vigorous winter hardy vine in Southeast Missouri where it thrives and spreads on its own.

English ivy was once believed to be a beautiful addition to the American landscape. It has been used to hide or "cover" unsightly areas such as ditch banks and trash dumps. Many plant nurseries still unwittingly promote the sale of English ivy to homeowners as a beautiful vine that will climb up the side of their brick or rock home. Often the unsuspecting homeowner is surprised when the ivy spreads out-of-control into areas where it is unwanted.

English ivy has the ability to vine upwardly into large trees such as the elm I have pictured here. Eventually, if left unattended the vine will inundate the tree, smother its limbs and kill the tree.

Like a similar very aggressive invasive vine called kudzu, introduction of English ivy into the North American ecosystem has proved to be a mistake. Both vines smother and kill native plants and are not beneficial in any major way to other native wildlife.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by Aaron at The Painted Wren Gallery.