Species guide
Poison ivy
Skin irritantToxicodendron radicans
How to recognise it
'Leaves of three' — glossy, pointed leaflets in groups of three, with the middle leaflet on a longer stalk. Grows as a vine or low shrub, reddish in spring, sometimes with clusters of white berries.
Is it dangerous?
Its urushiol oil causes an itchy, blistering rash on contact — even from dead plants or from smoke if it's burned. 'Leaves of three, let it be.'
Commonly confused with
- Virginia creeper — five leaflets, not three
- Boxelder seedlings — leaves opposite, not alternate
What to do
Don't touch it. If you brush against it, wash skin, clothes and tools with soap and cool water promptly, and never burn it.
Recorded 108,927 times in the wild worldwide.
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