Have you ever looked along a highway and observed all the trees covered in vegetation from trunk to branches? It was most likely English ivy (Hedera helix), the final of our 12 Dirty Dozen plants. H. helix certainly isn’t last in terms of its invasiveness in our region and at the Garden. We hope you can learn from our mistake by choosing not to plant this ornamental vine.
English ivy is an evergreen, perennial woody vine in the ginseng (Araliaceae) family. Its dark green, waxy leaves are alternate and have between 3 and 5 lobes. H. helix has tiny greenish-white flowers that bloom in late summer or early fall and after the flowers come blue-black berries. It reproduces both vegetatively by runners and sexually by seeds, which are dispersed by birds. Mature vines can grow up to 100 feet tall!
As a blogger writing about gardening and plants, I often need to find great images to illustrate my articles One plant I find myself searching for images of frequently is the classic English ivy (Hedera helix) With its iconic green lobed leaves and vining habit, the English ivy is one of the most recognizable houseplants and landscaping plants. When writing a post featuring this plant, finding an eye-catching, high-quality image is essential. In this article, I’ll share some tips for finding fantastic images of the English ivy online.
Understanding English Ivy Characteristics
Before starting your image search, it helps to be familiar with some key characteristics of the English ivy. This will allow you to look for photos that accurately represent the plant. Here are some important features to know:
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Green lobed leaves – The leaves have 3-5 lobes and come in a range of green shades from light to dark green. Variegated cultivars also exist.
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Vining stems – The stems are long and slender with aerial rootlets that allow the plant to climb walls, trellises, etc.
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Flowers and berries – In mature plants, small greenish flowers bloom in fall followed by dark purple-black berries if pollinated.
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Ground cover growth – When not climbing, ivy will spread horizontally as a ground cover.
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Indoor or outdoor growth – English ivy thrives indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in landscaping.
Knowing these key plant attributes will help you assess whether potential photos realistically represent the English ivy.
Trying Free Image Sites
When I need an image and don’t want to spend money, my first stop is always free photo sites like Pixabay, Pexels, and Unsplash. These sites offer high quality, royalty-free images that can be used without attribution. To find English ivy pictures, I’d search for keywords like “English ivy” or “Hedera helix.”
Pixabay is one of my favorite free sites. A search for “English ivy” yields over 470 photos of the plant in various contexts – as a houseplant, growing indoors and outdoors, closeups of leaves, etc. The images are professional quality and many have no background, making them easy to insert into blog posts or websites. There’s a great selection showing the leaves, vines, flowers, and berries. The site also has videos of English ivy you can use.
Other top free sites like Pexels and Unsplash have great options too, with lots of photos showcasing the iconic trailing vines and lobed leaves. Sifting through these sites for English ivy pictures always gives me several high-quality choices I can use at no cost.
Checking Paid Stock Photo Sites
While free photo sites are amazing, sometimes I need an image that’s hard to find for free. In those cases, I turn to paid stock photo sites like Getty Images, iStock, Adobe Stock, and Shutterstock. These sites charge for images, but the libraries are massive, with over 100 million images each.
A search for “English ivy” on Getty Images gives 36,000+ professional photos of the plant to choose from. Everything from closeups of leaves to English ivy covering buildings, walls, and trellises. The latest image styles and trends are represented. There are also vector illustrations and videos available.
iStock has 150,000+ English ivy photos covering a huge range of styles and contexts. You’ll find crisp closeup shots, English ivy frames and borders, cartoon illustrations, and much more. Like Getty, iStock offers photos, vectors, and video clips.
Other paid sites like Adobe Stock and Shutterstock also have 100,000+ high-quality, on-brand English ivy images to peruse. While pricier than free photos, the selection can’t be beat when you want very specific, premium image content.
Using Advanced Search Techniques
To dig deeper into photo site libraries and find just the right English ivy image, use advanced search filters and tools. On both free and paid sites, you can filter by:
- Orientation – portrait, landscape, square
- Color – black & white, color
- File type – JPG, PNG, SVG, etc.
You can also search by related keywords to find more niche images. For English ivy, try terms like:
- Potted English ivy
- English ivy houseplant
- English ivy leaves
- Variegated English ivy
- English ivy basket
Using related keywords can uncover very specific photos that are perfect for your needs.
Reverse image search is another great way to find similar images to one you like. You just upload an image to the tool and matching or related photos are shown. This works on Pixabay, Getty, iStock and more.
Choosing Images for Commercial Use
When selecting an English ivy photo to use, always check the license terms. On free sites like Pixabay, the photos are royalty-free to use commercially. On paid sites, different licenses exist:
- Royalty-free (RF) – pay once to use the image multiple times
- Rights-managed (RM) – pay for each specific use
Royalty-free is best for blog posts, websites, print materials, etc. Rights-managed is for one-time use cases like book covers or billboards. Understand the license before using a paid image commercially.
Finding the perfect picture of an English ivy plant for your blog, website, or publication doesn’t have to be a challenge with all the great free and paid photo sources available today. Just remember to search for characteristics true to the plant, leverage advanced search filters, and use licenses properly. With a bit of effort, you’ll discover the ideal ivy image to make your content visually appealing and engaging.
How Did it Get Here?
English ivy is native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa. It was brought here by colonial settlers for cultivation as early as 1727. It has continued to be planted and marketed as a “low-maintenance” groundcover across the United States, which is ironic, considering how many resources go towards its removal.
Where is it Found?
Geographic Region: English ivy threatens Virginia’s Coastal, Mountain and Piedmont regions (PDF). This map shows that it also has spread to the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast.
Habitat: English ivy invades both open and forested areas, from the understory to the forest canopy. Disturbed areas (such as roadsides) are especially susceptible to invasion. It will even grow along building facades and fences, which can cause considerable damage and cost a lot of money to repair.
English Ivy Houseplant Varieties | Hedera Helix Vines
FAQ
Why is English ivy a problem?
English ivy is considered highly invasive in many states. It suffocates native trees and plants, causes issues with erosion, and can damage streams and rivers. Invasive species can contribute to the extinction of native species.
Do English ivy like sun or shade?
| Common Name: | English Ivy, Common Ivy |
|---|---|
| Sun Exposure: | Partial, Shade |
| Soil Type: | Loamy, Moist, Well-drained, Fertile |
| Soil pH: | Acidic (5.5 to 6.0) |
| Bloom Time: | Fall |
What are the downsides of English ivy?
The excess weight of English ivy may cause additional damage to trees during winter storms. English ivy can also affect local wildlife by displacing the plants they depend on. English ivy has invaded California and the northwestern United States and is particularly a problem in regions near the coast.
How many English ivy stock photos are there?
Browse 35,936 authentic english ivy stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional potted english ivy or english ivy houseplant stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project. Creeper plant with clipping path included.
What does English ivy look like?
English Ivy is one of the most widely recognized ivy species, known for its aggressive growth and versatility. It comes in two primary forms: the juvenile stage, which features lobed, bright green leaves, and the mature stage, where leaves darken and flowers emerge.
What is English ivy?
English ivy is the largest group of ivies we have; its scientific name is Hedera helix, and it is native of Europe. It has been used in gardening for centuries, which means that there are now cultivars and varieties aplenty on top of three subspecies.
What are ivy plants?
Ivy plants are some of the most versatile and visually appealing greenery found in both indoor and outdoor settings. With their trailing vines, lush foliage, and ability to climb walls, fences, and trellises, they add beauty and depth to any space. There are many types of ivy plants, each with unique leaf shapes, colors, and growth habits.
What does a green ivy plant look like?
Digital illustration of green ivy plant isolated against a white background. The ivy leaves are highly concentrated at the bottom of the image, then become more sparse as the stem climbs upward to the top of the frame. The ivy curls vertically through the image. Green ivy Hedera with glossy leaves and white veins on the wall. ivy plant.
What are the different types of ivy plants?
There are many types of ivy plants, each with unique leaf shapes, colors, and growth habits. Some varieties are best suited for ground cover, while others excel as houseplants or decorative climbing vines. Exploring the different types of ivy plants reveals a diverse range of species, from classic English Ivy to exotic Himalayan Ivy.