What Is Faster Growing, Ivy or Willow?

Boston Ivy Growth Rate

• Boston ivy, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8, is not a true ivy like English ivy. However, it is commonly referred to as one and grows in a climbing fashion to great heights, sometimes reaching up to 50 feet. It is an incredibly fast grower, the fastest of all ivies or willows, capable of adding 10 feet to its height in a single season.

English Ivy Growth Rate

• English ivy is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that tolerates a wide range of soil and light conditions. Its ability to grow in dense shade has made it adaptable to many areas of the United States, notably the Pacific Northwest, where it is a vicious invader. The species plant grows fastest and more aggressively than cultivars and other members of the Hedera species, but still only adds about .9 meters, or roughly 3 feet, to its height every year.

Willow Growth Rate

• Willow species grow at a fairly standard rate, usually 3 feet or more in a single season. This means they are about on par with English ivy, faster than its cultivars, but significantly slower than Boston ivy. Their final height varies by species. Weeping willow (Salix babylonica), for instance, is winter hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9 and can reach heights of 50 feet. Pussy willow (Salix discolor), on the other hand, is hardy in USDA zones 3 and above and only gets to about 20 feet high.

Precautions

• Both ivy and willow are fast-growing species. While this can be nice, helping you fill out a planting area quickly, it can also bring dangers. Ivy can be quite invasive, so you need to make an effort to confine it to its original planting area and keep it out of wilderness zones. On the other hand, willow’s quick growth means its wood is often weak. It therefore poses a significant litter problem and the fairly severe danger of dropping branches, especially in inclement weather. Its twining roots may also damage foundations and underground pipes.