what is this plant?

[noviceveggrower]

Hi, sorry doing this on my phone.
Have got this plant on my allotment and the guy before me used it as a hedge. The pointy out things I believe are flowers as my wild bees just love it.
My questions are what is it, is it meant to be used as a hedge,must be over 6ft now, and if and when can I cut it back?



Thanks, hopefully this will load up properly

[Noosner]

I've got that plant in my garden, too, NVG, and it is in the hedge! No idea what it is though, sorry!

[Guest]

Hedera helix - common ivy or in my words a marmite plant.

Some people argue it is great for wildlife others say it is invasive and destructive. As for a hedge that is debatable. It is really your call whether it stays or goes

[Greenleaves]

I would also say common ivy, a magnet for wasps

[veggiechicken]

Yes - its ivy. The juvenile leaves are a different shape to the mature ones
Ivy flowers provide forage for bees during the winter. The bees leave their colonies during warm spells when there is very little pollen for them and congregate on the ivy.
I leave it wherever its not in the way.

[Two_Sheds]

Yes - its ivy. The juvenile leaves are a different shape to the mature ones

The leaves are one shape when they grow horizontally, and take on the classic ivy shape when it starts to climb, and it won't flower until at least 7 years of age

We had 2 blackbird nests in our ivy hedge this year

[noviceveggrower]

Thanks everyone. I am not the worlds biggest fan I admit but from what VC has said and the bees I think I am best to leave it. It isn't in the way as such just looks a bit untidy but hey if nature uses it now and needs it over winter I think I can live with an untidy hedge row.

[Glutton4...]

We have it all along our dividing boundary. It has killed all but the Sycamores (which I believe are indestructible). The Bees absolutely love the flowers, as do flies. We also have Hornets in the biggest part out the back. It was once a lovely Plum tree, but now sadly deceased.