Need help indentifing this plant/ shrub etc

Hazel 4

Hi have just moved into a new house, and was doing some gardening when I came across this plant / shrub it is everywhere, wrapped round trees like some kind of ivy, but its not an ivy I don't think. The plant / shrub has shiny leaves the flower at the moment is like little green balls with a black centres Hope somebody can help as I have two children and wouldnt want to find out its poisonous.

figrat

Well it does sound very much like ivy, but a picture would be helpful for identification.

Gold1locks

I am certain from your description that what you are describing is indeed ivy. what may be throwing you is that ivy doesn't flower and fruit while it is in upward climbing mode, but once it gets to the top of whatever it is clinging to then it flops and produces a different shaped leaf altogether, quite unlike the earlier form. And it produces its fruit in winter, great for these fruits are exactly how you describe them, clusters of green balls with black eyes. 

Here's a close up of ivy fruit:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/h/hhehe--fr30542.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/h/hehe--fr30542.htm&h=1440&w=2160&sz=532&tbnid=kzrR50N7t-C3RM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/search%3Fq%3Divy%2Bfruit%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=ivy+fruit&usg=__c03BBpRnoHnbidVStV9u8hmYNCE=&docid=iwasjtTWfKOO_M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=V91qUZiaOq-b1AWm-YHABw&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQ9QEwAg&dur=494

and here's a photo of an adult ivy leaf with tiny unripened fruit.

;http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=adult+ivy+leaf&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&biw=1309&bih=697&ix=sea&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=ad5qUbL0CoLH0QWk1IGYCw#imgrc=mfmF-Uwwd14mbM%3A%3BWxQ24eIKOfK3DM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.aphotoflora.com%252Fimages%252Faraliaceae%252Fhedera_helix_common_ivy_leaf_adult_18-09-04.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.aphotoflora.com%252Faf_hedera_helix_common_ivy.html%3B640%3B480

 

 

Steven Roe

Could be a climbing hydrangea with last years seed pods and I do believe they can upset the stomach if eaten but double check

Hazel 4

Thank you so much for your replys. Gold1locks thank you for the pictures that is exactly what is growing in my garden, is it something I need to remove? because it seems to be growing all over my trees and shrubs.

Tropical Sam

You can trim it to make it tidy looking but removing Ivy can be a pain. it is actually very good for wildlife.

Gold1locks

I'd remove it. Cut to the base, treat any new soft leaf growth with glyphosate. You will need to do this on several occasions to exhaust the roots. I know some will say you should leave it as it provides food for birds at a time when food is scarce, but it can be very unruly in a garden and can spoil your garden plants / shrubs. Maybe you have an uninteresting tree somewhere where you could leave some ivy? 

Hazel 4

Thank you so much for your replys, I do have a tree at the bottom of my garden which it is growing on already. So I will leave it there and remove the rest..