Botanically speaking, English ivy plants are evergreen perennials. They are also classified as woody vines. English ivy plants can act as ground covers, spreading horizontally and reaching 8 inches in height. But they are also climbers, due to their aerial rootlets, which allow them to climb to heights of 50 feet or more. They will eventually bear insignificant greenish flowers but are grown primarily for their evergreen leaves. In this regard, they can be classified as foliage plants.