The question of what type of ivy has purple flowers usually points toward a case of mistaken identity in the garden. While “ivy” is often used loosely to describe any vining or creeping groundcover, prominent purple flowers immediately suggest a plant other than true ivy. The most likely candidates are evergreen groundcovers that share a similar growth habit, leading to frequent confusion. Understanding the genuine characteristics of true ivy is the first step in identifying the purple-flowered imposter.
Understanding True Ivy and its Flowers
True ivy belongs to the genus Hedera, most commonly represented by English Ivy (Hedera helix). This woody, perennial vine produces flowers, but they are dramatically different from the showy purple blooms often sought. The flowers of Hedera helix are typically small, greenish-yellow, and inconspicuous.
Flowering only occurs when the plant enters its mature, or “adult,” stage, which happens when the vine finds a vertical structure to climb and is exposed to sufficient light. This adult stage is marked by a change in leaf shape, shifting from the familiar three- to five-lobed juvenile leaves to unlobed, oval-to-rhombic leaves. These late-blooming flowers appear in dense, dome-shaped clusters called umbels, usually from late summer into the autumn months. The blooms are important late-season food sources for insects, but they lack vibrant color.
The Most Common Purple Flowering Imposters
The plant most frequently mistaken for ivy due to its purple flowers is Periwinkle, known botanically as Vinca minor or Vinca major. Also called Creeping Myrtle, this evergreen groundcover is widely planted for its glossy foliage and ability to thrive in shady areas. Vinca minor produces solitary flowers in the leaf axils, which are typically a distinctive violet-purple or lavender-blue color.
These flowers are showy, featuring five fused petals to create a phlox-like, tubular bloom about one inch across. Unlike true ivy, Periwinkle blooms profusely in early spring, often with sporadic flowering continuing throughout the summer and into autumn. The plant spreads by sending out long, trailing stems that root where they touch the soil, forming dense mats.
Another common purple-flowered groundcover confused with ivy is Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), sometimes referred to as Creeping Charlie. This plant shares the “ivy” name and a creeping habit, but it is actually a member of the mint family. Its small, funnel-shaped flowers are bluish-purple to violet and emerge in clusters of two or three from the leaf axils.
Ground Ivy is easily distinguished by its square stems and leaves that are round or kidney-shaped with scalloped edges, contrasting sharply with the lobed leaves of true ivy. The tubular flowers bloom in the spring, adding a carpet of purple. This plant spreads aggressively by rooting at the nodes of its creeping stems.
Visual Differences Between True Ivy and Look Alikes
The most reliable way to differentiate between true ivy (Hedera helix) and its purple-flowering look-alikes is to examine the specific structure of the leaves and flowers. True ivy in its juvenile, ground-covering form is defined by its dark green, lobed leaves, which typically feature three to five points. Vinca minor leaves are simple, opposite, and smooth-edged, presenting as oblong or ovate shapes with a glossy, leathery texture.
In terms of growth habit, true ivy climbs vigorously using specialized aerial rootlets that cling to surfaces, allowing it to scale walls and trees. Both Vinca and Glechoma are strictly trailing groundcovers that spread horizontally, rooting at the nodes where their stems meet the soil. They do not possess the climbing ability of Hedera.
The flower color provides the clearest distinction: Hedera flowers are a muted greenish-yellow, while the purple-flowered imposters display prominent, brightly colored, solitary or clustered violet-blue blooms.