English ivy plants (Hedera helix) are evergreen perennials. They are also classified as woody vines.English ivy can act as a groundcover, spreading horizontally and reaching 8 inchesin height. But its is also aclimber, due to its aerial rootlets, which allow it to climb to heights of 80 feet. The plant will eventually bear insignificant greenish flowers, but it is grown primarily for its evergreen leaves. In this regard, it can be classified as a foliage plant. The best time to plant English ivy is spring. It is a fast, aggressive grower that is considered invasive in many areas.