What Feeds on English Ivy?

English Ivy was introduced to America from England during the Colonial era. The evergreen plant is persistent in its growth, and will crawl along the ground until it finds something to climb.

Description

• English ivy is evergreen and is characterized by the traditional three- or five-lobed leaf and the long petiole. The plant matures when it can climb no farther and will then produce white flowers.

Warning

• Both the leaves and berries contain glycoside hederin, which is toxic. Ingestion can produce symptoms such as diarrhea, difficulty breathing and muscular weakness.

Birds

• The Plant Conservation Alliance notes that fruit-eating birds such as the cedar waxwing, northern robin, stellar jay, mockingbird, European starling and house sparrow commonly feed on English ivy. Even birds are not immune to the toxicity symptom of diarrhea, which explains why the seeds are so heavily and widely dispersed.

Insects

• According to the Plant Conservation Alliance, flies and bees are frequently lured to the flowers of English ivy for nectar, especially late in the blooming season.