How to Identify Poison Ivy

Co-authored by Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAI

Last Updated: August 30, 2022 Fact Checked

Poison ivy is a common plant on the North American continent, noted for its ability to create an itchy rash on contact with skin. It is an extremely adaptable, persistent type of vegetation and as a result, it can be easy to accidentally become affected. Fortunately, it is not all that difficult to identify with a little practice. This article can help.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Identifying Features of the Plants

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1
Look for the vine with clusters of three leaves. Poison ivy always has clusters of three leaves. Use this as the defining characteristic, as this plant is not so obvious in most other ways. Poison ivy is remarkable with its ability to grow in a variety of ways. Although it is called "poison ivy" it can not only grow upwards clinging to surfaces like an ivy, but can also grow as a bush or single plants.
- If growing in rocky places, it tends to take over from all other vegetation. If growing near something like a tree or a fence, it will twine itself around the object as it grows, creating a dense mass of vegetation which cannot be crossed.
2
Recognize more of poison ivy’s identifying features. Beyond clusters of 3 leaves, there are several other identifying features of poison ivy. They include:
- Pointy tips: The three closely-connected leaflets should all have pointy tips
- Bigger middle leaf: The 2 lateral (side) leaflets are smaller than the terminal (end or middle) leaf.
- Stem vs. no stem: The center leaf almost always has a small stem, whereas the 2 side leaflets grow directly from the vine and don’t have small stems.
- Waxy on top, fuzzy on bottom: The leaves can appear in a variety of shades of green, but they tend to be a darker, waxy green on top. The underside of the leaves typically looks lighter in color and fuzzier.
- Seasonal color changes: In the spring, the leaves are usually a bright green color, whereas in the fall, they turn red (poison ivy) or bright red/orange (poison oak)^{[1]
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  Research source}
- Sometimes shiny: The leaves will often have a shiny appearance to them, but don’t rely on shininess alone as an indicator -- especially if it has rained recently.
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Both poison ivy and poison oak plants produce small clusters of fruit.^{[2]
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Research source} If either plant has berries, do not touch or consume them for any reason.

How to Identify Poison Ivy/Oak Fruit
Color: White, greenish-white, or tan^{[3]
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Research source}
In bloom: Flowers grow in the spring and berries ripen in late summer, continuing to grow throughout fall and winter.
Safe for humans? Birds and deer eat these berries, but they are not safe for human consumption.^{[4]
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Michigan State University Extension
Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement

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4
Don’t touch any part of the plant. All parts of the plant contain the irritating urushiol oil, so avoid any contact with all parts of the plant. Urushiol is a colorless (or sometimes slightly yellow) oil that can remain on objects for months.^{[5]
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Research source}
- The oil content is highest on the plants in the spring and summer months.
- If you accidentally touch poison ivy, you'll get a rash with patches or streaks of red, raised blisters on your skin. If that happens, use a steroid cream and calamine lotion. You can also take an oral antihistamine for the itching.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAI
  Board Certified Allergist
  
  Expert Interview. 29 July 2020.}
There are a number of fun, rhyming catch-phrases that you can teach to children to help them identify and stay away from poison ivy. Here are some of them:

Poison Ivy Rhymes for Kids
"Leaves of three? Let them be!"
"One, two, three? Don't touch me”
"Hairy vine, no friend of mine."
"Longer middle stem; stay away from them."
"Berries white, run in fright"
"Berries white, danger in sight."
"Red leaflets in the spring, it's a dangerous thing."
"Side leaflets like mittens, will itch like the dickens."

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Spotting Poison Ivy and Oak When Out and About

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When growing as a vine, poison ivy can snake its way along trees.^{[7]
X
Research source} When it grows like this, it is tons of little poison ivy plants growing out of a vine. Always inspect a vine if you need to go near it, and see if it has plants growing out of it.
Poison oak drops its leaves in winter, leaving a bare stem of a vine hanging down. But for sensitive individuals, this can still cause a rash.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Tricky Things to Be Aware Of

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1
Avoid confusing poison oak with other plants. Some other plants have two or three similar-looking leaves. Such other plants may have spines on the leaf tips (holly or Mahonia) or thorns on the stems (blackberry). However, it is better to avoid plants that resemble poison ivy.^{[8]
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Research source}
- If you see a plant that has all the characteristics, but have regular, uniformly shaped leaves, or sharp tips on the edges, it's not likely to be poison ivy. Poison ivy has tips that are more randomly spaced and somewhat curved between the tips along the edges.
Toxic plants are not poisonous to all creatures. Deer and other grazing animals may happily eat poison ivy.

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What is the best way to get rid of poison ivy?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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The best way to get rid of poison ivy is to simply dig it up and dispose of it, though you should be extremely careful that you do not come into contact with the plant or anything the plant has touched, especially if you are sensitive. A safer option is to use a spray-on herbicide, a natural option is St Gabriel Labs' Poison Ivy Defoliant®, but a glyphosphate-based herbicide like Roundup™ will also be effective. Observe the area and take care of any that tries to grow back.

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What does it look like when you get poison ivy?

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Poison ivy rashes cause your skin to swell and turn red, sometimes with blisters forming if there is a greater exposure or you are sensitive to it. You can expect itching as well.

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What kills poison ivy naturally?

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You've got several options to kill poison ivy naturally, but the most effective methods involve digging it up. If you do decide to dig it up, you should exercise extreme caution so that you do not come into contact with the plant or anything the plant has touched.

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Tips

Teach children from when they can walk not to touch unidentified plants. This is part of going into nature. This is especially true in winter when plants don't have identifying leaves.

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Watch for a rash two to three days after possible exposure and begin treatment immediately. See How to treat poison ivy and poison oak for treatment options.

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Change your shoe/boot laces once exposed to poison ivy. The oil can remain on the laces, allowing you to keep reinfecting yourself.

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Warnings

Never burn poison ivy as a method to get rid of it. The oil on the leaves will burn, and if you breathe in the fumes, chances are you'll get it in your throat or lungs, which will make breathing extremely painful. It can be damaging or even lethal.

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Poison ivy can be embedded in the Virginia creeper, so never just go rolling around in the Virginia creeper, or there might still be serious consequences. And be aware that it's easy to confuse poison ivy with the Virginia creeper. Even though the Virginia creeper has five leaves, it's still easily mistaken for poison ivy (or vice versa).

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Things You'll Need

Photos or images to carry with you to aid identification––use your smartphone or similar device for easy photo retrieval
First aid treatments for poison plant rashes especially when walking in nature, hiking or camping
Degreaser, such as dish-washing detergent not diluted, or a specialized soap for poison plants (not ordinary soap)