Plant Map and Pictures of Poison Ivy
What does Poison Ivy Look Like?
The best way to identify poison ivy is by its typical compound leaf made up of three leaflets. The leaflets can be two to four inches long, and can have a dull or glossy green finish. The poison ivy leaflets usually have pointed tips. The middle leaflet is generally larger than the two laterals. The three leaflets occur alternately along the stem. Leaves on the same poison ivy vine often have a number of color and leaf margin combinations. As a vine climbs shrubs and trees, it produces numerous roots that attach to the tree or shrub. The roots often give the vine a "fuzzy twine" look.
Poison Ivy Distribution By State
©M. Kat Anderson NPDC @ PLANTS Database
What Does Poison Oak Look Like?
Poison oak can usually be identified by its leaves. In the spring, the leaves of young plants are shiny red, turning to shiny green as they mature. In the fall, poison oak foliage changes from green to orange and red. Poison oak is a deciduous, woody plant that loses its leave in the winter. The leaves of these plants usually grow in groups of three on a shared stalk. Poison oak leaflets are rounded at the tips and alternate on the stem. The leaf surface can be glossy or a bit hairy, usually 1 to 4 inches in length with lobed or toothed edges.
In the spring, poison oak yield small clusters of greenish-white flowers. The fruits are formed in the late summer, and are white and green resembling berries.
Poison Oak Distribution By State
©M. Kat Anderson NPDC @ PLANTS Database
What Does Poison Sumac Look Like?
Poison Sumac is commonly a shrub with alternate leaves; the leaf stalk is mostly reddish or grayish in color. This deciduous plant has between 7 and 13 leaflets per stem. The smooth leaves can vary in length between 5 to 15 inches. Poison sumac leaves become orange or scarlet in the fall and produces flowers and fruit in the spring and summer. The flowers are yellowish-green and the fruit is usually white or pale yellow.
Poison Sumac Distribution By State
©M. Kat Anderson NPDC @ PLANTS Database
