• Ivy is a tenacious plant that covers most objects in its path.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Ivy is one of the easiest plants to grow. You have many choices among ivies, whether you're planting for greenery, fragrance or to obscure an unsightly site. Most ivies hug the ground where they're planted, creeping along, setting out tenacious roots and evergreen leaves on long, sturdy vines. Some ivies provide bunches of tiny flowers in the spring. Hardy and enduring, ivy can easily overcome less persistent plants and flowers if left unchecked in or near a garden area.
  
  

Pointed Leaves

• Ivies tend to present leaves that end in a five-point splay, often curling and twisting on vines to give a lush, full appearance. Whether pale or dark, variegated or plain, many ivy leaves reveal traces of color other than green under certain conditions. Some ivies, such as the Boston ivy, move from green to nearly red in the fall, holding that color for a winter display until spring turns them green again. Others, such as the Golden Ingot ivy, are tri-colored, fading from pale yellow centers dotted with gray, surrounded by a bright green border.
  
  

Aggressive Spread

• The ivy's ability to root nearly anywhere and spread its vines for complete coverage is legendary. The term "Ivy League" was drawn from the masses of Boston ivy that spread like a green carpet to cover buildings on eastern college campuses in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many broad-leafed ivies, such as the English ivy, spread by putting out roots all along its vines, grabbing hold of any object or structure in its path. This quality makes the ivy a preferred choice for rocky slopes, heavily shaded areas, dilapidated buildings and sites with poor soil.
  
  

Hardy Evergreen

• Ivy plants are evergreen. Some ivies present a different color scheme in colder months, but will revert to green when exposed to warmer temperatures. The green ivy carpet may be punctuated by small white, blue, pink or yellow blooms in the spring. Unlike its deciduous cousins, an ivy plant retains its foliage year-round. Its easy-care, evergreen quality makes ivy a common choice for mass plantings on sprawling hillsides or on infertile soils where grass cannot grow.