Characteristics:
Atlantic ivy is a viny evergreen shrub with many trailing to climbing stems up to 30 meters high. The leathery leaves are triangular to broadly ovate, usually with a point at the tip. The margins range from entire to 3-5 lobed. The blades range from 4-10 cm long.
Flowers are 5-7 mm long and are borne in one to several racemose, globose umbels. The pedicels are 5-15 mm long. The berries are bluish-black and measure 6-9 mm long.
Historically Atlantic ivy has been used as an evergreen vine or ground cover. Its leaves are fairly attractive although its flowers and fruits are rarely noticed. It is very successful growing in almost complete darkness, so it is able to grow in the dark forests of the Pacific Northwest. Typically it is spread via birds who eat the berries while visiting yards and then eliminate the seeds with the wastes when they return to the forest to roost. The vines grow along the ground, smothering native plants and up onto the trunks of trees. The weight of the vine in the trees often causes the trunk to break, effectively killing the tree.
Besides its use as an ornamental vine and ground cover, Atlantic ivy has become established as a weedy species in many forests west of the Cascades.
Originally from Europe, Atlantic ivy is now established in forests near metropolitan areas along the west side of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington.
In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4000' between the Sandy and Hood Rivers.
