I'm located in New Jersey, where English ivy (Hedera helix) is considered invasive, and I spend a lot of time trying to remove it from my lawn. Despite having to deal with it annually, I find it to be quite an attractive plant. I'm curious about your thoughts on it—do you find it less troublesome in your area? Is it beneficial for local wildlife? Do any creatures eat it? I'd love to hear your insights!
1 Answer
English ivy is actually a great food source for various wildlife, like holly blue butterflies, and it provides shelter for birds, especially during winter when other trees are bare. Some folks think it damages buildings and trees, but that's often exaggerated. I’ve noticed it doesn’t really invade lawns like it sounds like yours does, which is interesting. It definitely has a bit of a somber reputation, though, partly because it's often found at churchyards with long-lived trees. It's not like poison ivy in North America, though, which has its own negative connotation.
I totally get that! My lawn might be thin, too, but ivy seems to spread everywhere effortlessly. Do you ever see insect damage on the leaves? I think it would be more appealing if I knew it was being eaten by something!