Hedera helix, Common Ivy

Common Name: Common Ivy

Hedera helix, more commonly known as Common Ivy, may be found growing in woodlands, hedgerows or on walls. Sometimes it is a climber; sometimes it forms a layer at ground level. It is a woody, evergreen perennial that is distributed throughout much of the UK.

Ivy has distinctive leaves, which persist throughout the winter months. They are palmate with 3 to 5 distinct triangular lobes. Generally, the leaves have a dark, ‘bottle green’ colour when mature, except around the veins where the colour is lighter. Interestingly, the leaves around the flowers at the top of the plant are markedly different; more elliptical in shape and a lighter green.

Common Ivy flowers from late summer until late autumn, and the flowers are very rich in nectar, an important late autumn food source for bees and other insects.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.