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Northwestern Gardening

English Ivy as a groundcover?

20 years ago

My friend finally convinced me to visit Flower World, out in Maltby, and I was appalled that they were selling English Ivy (by the flat!) as a groundcover.

They also, by the way, don't offer any knowledgeable salespeople to help out, so I shudder to think how many unsuspecting customers are planting this (verified) noxious plant in their gardens. (BTW, it's already killed one of my hemlocks, and I've seen it spread into the forest nearby at an alarming rate!)

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Comments (3)

Embothrium
20 years ago
Check web site of Washington Noxious Web Control Board (or whatever the exact wording is) for additional information. Only certain kinds of ivy have been listed, don't remember at what level of listing (there are several).
kitty32_z8
20 years ago
oh whhheeehhhwww I thought you were thinking of planting english ivy! Glad to see you were just warning people.
Nasty stuff it is!
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Embothrium
20 years ago
Actually the common, big ivy of urban hillsides (and nurseries) is Irish ivy--a hybrid species. True English ivy is also pestiferous here, however.

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