Common Ivy

The Ivy is a glossy green plant. It has three or five pointed leaves which make it easy to recognise. It clings to walls and trees by means of little roots that grow out from the stems. Ivy can climb up to thirty metres, but its lower branches often trail along the ground and these have much smaller leaves. The greenish yellow flowers do not bloom before October and are full of nectar, the sweet liquid found in flowers, so any bees that are still about are quick to visit them. The black fruits should not be eaten by humans. Ivy is bad for trees because it smothers them and takes the nourishment from the soil.