Kriechender Güünsel vs Efeu

Ajuga reptans compared with Hedera helix

Key Differences

• Kriechender Güünsel is Endangered while Efeu is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Kriechender Güünsel	Efeu
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Lamiales (Lippenblütlerartige)	Apiales (Doldenblütlerartige)
Family	Lamiaceae	Araliaceae
Genus	Ajuga	Hedera
Species	Ajuga reptans	Hedera helix

Evolutionary Relationship

Kriechender Güünsel and Efeu share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Kriechender Güünsel

EN — Endangered

Efeu

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Kriechender Güünsel	Efeu
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Kriechender Güünsel

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Japan), Europe (6 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Efeu

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate coniferous forests, montane grasslands and shrublands, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (5 countries), Asia (4 countries), Europe (6 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (7 countries).

Kriechender Güünsel

The Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) is a species in the genus Ajuga. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environment.

Efeu

<em>Hedera helix</em>, commonly known as common ivy or English ivy, is a woody evergreen climber and groundcover in the family Araliaceae. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a very wide global distribution across the Palearctic realm and beyond, encompassing temperate and Mediterranean habitats. The species is native to Europe and western Asia and has been widely introduced elsewhere. It typically grows in woodlands, hedgerows, cliffs, walls, and urban green spaces, tolerating deep shade and a wide range of soil conditions. Common ivy provides important ecological services, offering shelter and late-season nectar and fruit resources for wildlife. Diet information for this species is not available in current records. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 11 countries:

🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇳🇴 Norway 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States