One way in which it differs from Hedera helix (common ivy) is that the light veins on its leaves are less pronounced.

[2] Like the related H. helix (English ivy), H. hibernica is an invasive weed in parts of North America with mild winters: in a recent study, 83% of 119 populations of invasive ivy sampled in the Pacific Northwest were found to be H. hibernica and not H. helix as was previously thought.

It requires consistently moist soil, and can grow in any light environment from full sun to deep shade.

Its natural habitat is forest or dense bush which is cool and cloud-covered for much of the year, such as is often found in mountainous regions near the ocean.

In the autumn its flowers are an important source of nectar for many insects, including the ivy bee Colletes hederae.