Hedera helix.ca.wikipedia.org. ( Accessed 5/2014).

Hedera helix is an evergreen, woody vine, climbing to 30 m high by adventitious roots, or creeping ground cover, rooting in soil. 

Leaves alternate, broad, 3-5 palmately lobed, changing shape to rounded or heart-shaped when vine climbs upward, will bloom only when climbing. 

Flowers small, green, in rounded clusters.

Fruit fleshy, black, 1-2 seeded, probably eaten by birds, which disperse seeds. 

Wetland status: NL. 

Frequency in NYC: Frequent. 

Origin: Europe. 

Habitat: Forest ground cover, very shade tolerant. From old house sites, garden waste, often spreads from landscaped areas into woods. 

Hedera helix.commons.wikimedia.org. (Accessed 5/2014).

Notes: Seedlings found rarely (personal observation). Dense ground cover that eliminates native herbs (Young 1996).