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The myth

Ivy causes decay in the walls of buildings on which it grows.


The “truth”

Not only does ivy not generally harm buildings, according to research commissioned by English Heritage, it may actually be good for them. It’s long been assumed that ivy damaged masonry as its supporting roots worked their way into the pointing, loosening the bricks. Latest findings suggest that this belief comes from observers misunderstanding the order of events – in other words, that the plant establishes especially well on already unsound walls, and then gets the blame when their decay becomes visible. A three-year study by Oxford University biogeomorpho­logists concluded that ivy-clad buildings enjoyed significant advantages over naked ones.