 It is an evergreen perennial climbing or trailing woody plant shrub or bush, growing to 20–30 m high where suitable surfaces (trees, cliffs, walls) are available, and also growing as ground cover where there are no vertical surfaces.It climbs by means of aerial rootlets which cling to the substrate.In warm climates, it grows more rapidly and becomes established faster than the related "H. hibernica", and "H. helix".