[4][5][6][7] It is also called frare de l'heura in Catalan,[7] bršljanov volovod in Croatian,[7] záraza břečťanová in Czech,[7] vedbend-gyvelkvæler in Danish,[6][7] klimopbremraap in Dutch,[5][6][7] orobanche du lierre in French,[4][5][6][7] klimmerblêdfretter in Frysk,[6] efeuwürger[7] and efeu-sommerwurz in German,[5][6][7] borostyán-vajvirág in Hungarian,[7] múchóg[7] or múchóg mhór in Irish,[8] succiamele dell'edera in Italian,[6][7] bergflette-snylterot in Norwegian,[6] erva-toira da hera[4] or erva-toira[7] in Portuguese, заразиха плющевая in Russian,[7] záraza brečtanová in Slovak,[7] pojalnik bršljanov in Slovene,[5][7] espárrago de lobo, jopo de la hiedra, jopo espárrago de lobo, or matalegumbre in Spanish,[7] murgrönssnyltrot in Swedish,[6][7] tez canavarotu in Turkish,[7] and gorfanc eiddew or gorfanhadlen eiddew in Welsh.

O. hederae is primarily differentiated by its characteristically distally pinched corollas, the flowers extending over most of the stem, the long, acuminate floral bracts, and its large terminal 'bud' of unopened flowers that give the spike a pointed top.

[13] It primarily propagates by seeds which are dispersed by wind, but is also able to regenerate from small fragments of roots that remain in the soil.

[9][15] Many broomrape seeds show considerable abilities to remain dormant but viable for many years.

The filament then penetrates xylem tissues which allows it to receive water, nutrients, and carbohydrates from its ivy host.

Ivy broomrape sown onto an alien host like Tetrapanax was shown to flower in a single year.

[21] Its native distribution matches that of its host, ivy, so it is mainly found in central and Northern Europe as well as parts of Asia.

In the US, it has been observed in a patch of invasive ivy at the University of California, Berkeley, near the life sciences building.

O. amethystea primarily parasitizes field eryngo (Eryngium campestre) which is in the order Apiales.

[3] A review of literature of traditional use of Orobanche shows that while broomrapes were used as food and medicine throughout regions of the world, this usage mainly happened in China and North America.