Hedera helix L.

Climbing perennial. Stems up to 30 m long, creeping or climbing, becoming stouter and ± erect and often arborescent at flowering; young shoots and petioles green to purplish or burgundy red, with few to numerous, (3)–6–16–(20)-rayed stellate or scale-like hairs. Lvs glabrous, dark green or variegated ivory white; lvs of non-flowering shoots broadly ovate, obtuse to acuminate, obtuse to cordate at base, usually shallowly to moderately 3–5-palmately-lobed, (1.5)–3–15–(20) cm long; lvs of flowering shoots ovate, rhombic, or elliptic, often narrower and more crowded than lvs of non-flowering shoots, acute to acuminate, obtuse at base, not lobed, up to c. 15 cm long. Infl. a raceme of numerous-flowered globose umbels; petals yellowish green, 3–5 mm long. Fr. deep bluish purple to black when ripe, 2–3- seeded, 5–8 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Mar.–May; Fruiting: Aug.–Dec.