Wrigley Field ivy

The Wrigley Field ivy is the ivy that covers the outfield walls of the playing field of Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was installed in 1937 at the behest of Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley based upon the ivy on the walls at Perry Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Wrigley Field was opened in 1914. In 1937, it was renovated and P. K. Wrigley discussed with the Chicago Cubs President Bill Veeck how to beautify the stadium. Veeck suggested planting ivy on the outfield walls, similar to Perry Stadium, which was done. The ivy was originally English ivy but was later changed to Parthenocissus tricuspidata. Cuttings from the ivy were sold by local vendors. The Chicago Cubs attempted to grow the ivy on the outside of Wrigley Field as well, but the plantings were often stolen so the Cubs abandoned the plans.

Following a later change in Major League Baseball (MLB) rules which requires all outfield walls to be padded, Wrigley Field has been grandfathered into the rules, meaning it is the only MLB stadium without padded walls because of the ivy. In 2004, the ivy was specifically included in Wrigley Field's Landmark Designation by the Chicago City Council.

In 2012 and 2013, a number of people were arrested after breaking into the stadium and attempting to steal parts of the ivy.

At the start of the baseball season in April, the ivy is brown. Around the middle of May, it turns to green, before turning red in October. It is maintained by the Wrigley Field grounds crew using hand shears. The grounds crew has to do little maintenance, besides pruning and replacing parts of it that get pulled down or have beer spilled on it by fans during games, because of the hardiness of the ivy. In 2009, the History Channel documentary Life After People stated that without pruning, the ivy would cover the stands within five years.

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