ENGLISH IVY ( Hederahelix ) -Perennial, evergreen vine - Native to Caucasus Mountain region of Central Eurasia - Introduced to North America in Over 500 named horticultural varieties

Ivy is an Invasive Species Characteristics ofinvasives: - Rapid, widespread reproduction and dispersal - Rapid, widespread growth -Tolerant of and adaptive to wide variety of ecosystems - Opportunistic : quickly colonizes disturbed Ecosystems - Creates a monoculture -Resistant to eradication INVASIVE SPECIES: a plant or animal that disrupts or alters natural ecosystem function, composition, and diversity

Nothing eats it No native wildlife prefers ivy as a food, and few will eat it even under stress. Nothing kills it It is not significantly affected by any disease or pest in the outdoors, although under cultivated conditions it can be susceptible to pathogens. It spreads everywhere The seeds are widely dispersed by birds that eat the berries: European starlings, robins, house sparrows, stellar jays, cedar waxwings. It grows bigger and faster It is shade tolerant and out-competes native plants in almost every northwest ecosystem. It takes over Without control efforts, ivy could destroy northwest forests within this century. Why is Ivy Invasive?

Ivy Kills Trees - competes with trees for water and nutrients - covers bark and reduces its contact with air -dense vines block light from tree’s foliage -weight of vines causes premature toppling -weight of vines increases storm damage - smothers deciduous under-story that recycles nutrients to the soil around tree

Ivy Destroys Riparian Zones - Kills native vegetation that stabilizes bank and shades stream -Decreases water quality Ivy’s shallow roots do not hold soil on slopes, so erosion intostream increases. Increased sediment increases the water temperature, decreasing the water’s capacity to hold oxygen. -Destroys ecological function Riparian zones are heavily used by wildlife because they provide food, shelter, and water. Ivy destroys the native food sources and is too dense to provide good shelter, decreasing the capacity of the riparian zone to support wildlife.

Ivy Destroys Forests - Loss of structure and function of forest ecosystem: Ivy suppresses allunderstory, without providing the same food, shelter, andnutrietrecycling. Ivy topples trees, leaving holes in the canopy that make way for a succession of shade-intolerant invasives. - Disrupts natural forest succession, replacing it with a succession ofinvasives

Ivy is not beneficial in your yard -Does not provide habitat for desirable wildlife (e.g. songbirds) -Does provide habitat for rats and mosquitoes -Will overtake your yard if left untended -Does not stabilize slopes : Ivy’s shallow root system does not hold soil on a slope. Ivy’s dense leaf and root mass on the surface causes water to pool, making the surface more likely to slide. - Hastens destruction of houses and other structures Climbing ivy crumbles and breaks down the outside of structures

Not Quite… THE END Show how much pull you have, practice De Vine intervention! For more information, contact the Forest Park Ivy Removal Project at Or visit our web site,noivyleague.com or our headquarters, 2960 NWUpshur, Portland, Oregon YOU can help too! Avoid planting Ivy so that it doesn’t spread Remove Ivy from your property Talk with neighbors about the problems with Ivy Help remove Ivy in public places

html

Group Project Group 1 - Japanese knotweed Group 2 - Himalayan blackberries Group 3 - Scot’s broom/Scotch broom Group 4 - Russian olive Group 5 - Morning glory Group 6 - Clematis Group 7 – Reed canarygrass

Information to Find: 1.Give a general description of the invasive. 2.Origin of invasive? (where did it come from, when did it come to OR, how did it get here) 3.How is the invasive spreading? 4.List 5 organisms the invasive affects. (Can be positive or negative)