English Ivy sap can irritate skin, fruit is toxic
English Ivy is invasive vine that is pervasive with toxic fruits and sap that can irritate skin
By Renee Sandelowsky and Helen Varekamp
Renee Sandelowsky and Helen Varekamp are Bayfield residents and local volunteers. They are writing a monthly series of articles, for the Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation, encouraging the planting of native species of plants and encouraging the removal of invasive species. This month (November 2025), their focus is the invasive plant English Ivy – Hedera helix.
English Ivy is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. This invasive plant was introduced to Canada in the 1800s as an ornamental plant. It has been developed into hundreds of varieties and can now be found in gardens throughout North America.
Although technically a vine, this evergreen perennial is commonly used as a ground cover in dense shade.
Whether in shade or sun, English Ivy will persist and spread vegetatively through its long vines that root at the nodes in almost any soil type, and will block sunlight from other plants. It is easily identified by its dark green, three-lobed leaves, placed alternately on its flexible woody vine.
Despite its pervasiveness in gardens and nearby natural areas, and its adaptability, English Ivy is still readily for sale in many garden centres.
The fruits are toxic to humans and livestock, and its sap can irritate skin.
Birds eat the berries and are responsible for long-distance spread of English Ivy, since the seeds within the fruit pass through the bird without damage. The Ivy can also reproduce vegetatively from broken or cut vines that root easily.
Impact on trees:
English Ivy attaches to trees by sticky rootlets that develop along the stem, which can be up to 12 inches in diameter and can climb to 100 feet in the canopy, eventually killing the tree by impeding photosynthesis.
Invasive English Ivy can grow in dense patches in open woodland, forest openings and forest edges, therefore suppressing native tree seedlings.
This invasive plant can engulf and kill lower branches of trees, due to heavy shade, while the weight of the vines and evergreen leaves causes the host tree to be much more susceptible to blowdown from winds or heavy rain, snow, or ice.
It may also harbour a plant disease, called Bacterial Leaf Scorch. This plant disease harms Oak, Elm, and Maple trees.
How to manage English Ivy
Managing English Ivy is challenging but achievable with persistence and a multi-step approach:
- Manual Removal: Small patches can be dug out by using a shovel. This is most effective when the soil is moist. Gloves and protective clothing are recommended since the sap can cause a reaction in some people.
Do not put plants in compost or municipal green waste; put in garbage instead.
- Smothering: Small or larger patches can be covered with a tarp or cardboard to block sunlight.
- Herbicide Treatment: Older leaves have a waxy coating that resists herbicide. Spraying young leaves in spring is more effective. You can also increase the effectiveness of herbicides by applying it to cut stems. If the ivy is growing on a tree, cut the stems at ground level and treat, being careful not to apply herbicide to the tree trunk.
Use herbicides only as a last resort, following all applicable regulations to minimize environmental harm.
After removal, replant the area with regionally appropriate native plants and monitor it for several years. This step is essential to prevent reinfestation and to restore ecosystem health. Native plants will also attract pollinators and wildlife, improving biodiversity in your garden.
A good choice, as an alternative, would be Wild Strawberry – Fragaria virginiana
Ontario has high number of invasive plant species
Ontario has 441 known invasive plant species. This is the highest number of all Canadian provinces. Invasive plants can reduce crop yield and increase the use of herbicides for farmers, increasing costs and reducing crop values.
Invasive plants can reduce forest regeneration by competing with tree seedlings. In natural areas, invasive plants affect species diversity and health by reducing available resources. Human health can be affected by invasive plant species such as toxic Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip. Recreation areas overrun by invasive plants can be less enjoyable due to difficulty walking through a trail filled with dense growth, fewer birds, burs on clothing and pets, and increased number of ticks.
Learn more and take action
Education is key to combatting invasive plants. Learn to identify invasive species and choose native or non-invasive alternatives for your garden. Focus on managing one or two invasive plants at a time and be patient – successful eradication takes time and persistence.
To learn more, visit:
- Ontario Invasive Plant Council
- Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation
- Grow Me Instead Guide
