The answer to whether ivy returns every year is yes, because the most common variety, English Ivy (Hedera helix), is a perennial plant. Perennials live for more than two years, unlike annuals, which die within a single growing season. English Ivy is also an evergreen perennial, meaning it retains its leaves and stays green through the winter months. Even if some foliage dies back, the root system remains alive to regrow the following spring.
How Ivy Survives Year After Year
Ivy’s persistence stems from its robust root system and successful biological strategy. Perennial plants store energy-rich nutrients, primarily starches and carbohydrates, within their roots and woody rhizomes. This stored energy acts as a reserve, sustaining the plant through stress, such as winter dormancy or drought. The woody stems and extensive root crowns are hardy, protecting the plant from harsh environmental conditions. Even if above-ground growth is killed, the intact root crown ensures the plant can rapidly generate new shoots and foliage when growing conditions return.
Identifying Common Ivy Types
It is important to correctly identify the type of ivy you are dealing with, as two common climbing plants are often confused: English Ivy and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). English Ivy is an evergreen plant known for its dark, shiny leaves that typically have three to five distinct lobes, giving them a classic, somewhat maple-leaf shape. Its woody stems are often covered in fine, root-like structures, and it retains its foliage throughout the year. In contrast, Poison Ivy is a deciduous plant, meaning it sheds its leaves in the fall and regrows them in the spring. The most reliable visual identifier for Poison Ivy is its compound leaf structure, where each leaf is composed of three distinct leaflets.
Strategies for Controlling Recurrence
Controlling ivy requires a plan that targets its perennial nature and extensive root system, as simple trimming only encourages regrowth. The most effective long-term strategy is to deplete the plant’s stored energy reserves, essentially starving the roots. This is achieved by consistently cutting back all above-ground foliage as soon as it appears, forcing the plant to continually draw on its carbohydrate stores without the ability to photosynthesize and replenish them.
For established, large patches, physical removal involves digging out the dense, woody root crown. This must be done thoroughly, as even small root fragments can resprout.
A more aggressive method involves the careful use of systemic herbicides, such as those containing glyphosate or triclopyr. These chemicals are absorbed by the leaves and transported through the plant’s vascular system down to the roots, aiming for a complete kill of the entire organism.
Because mature ivy leaves have a waxy coating that repels liquids, systemic herbicides are most effective when applied to new, younger growth in the spring or directly painted onto the cut stumps of the vine. This targeted approach ensures the toxic agent reaches the perennial root system. Regardless of the method chosen, consistent follow-up is necessary to manage any new shoots that emerge from remaining root pieces.