English Ivy is a high-climbing evergreen vine introduced as an ornamental from Europe. Commonly escaping from cultivation, it is nearly impossible to eradicate once established and is one of the worst invasive weed problems in North Carolina. It aggressively spreads into native forests by seed or vegetatively, where it smothers tall trees as well as the forest floor, preventing native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees from sprouting.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.

Climbing up a Willow Oak tree.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.

Spring foliage emerging.

Chapel Hill, NC 3/11/06.