Poison Ivy Plant Identification

Many people have heard the old saying: "Leaflets three, let it be." Three leaflets is one of the characteristics of the poison ivy plant. There are other plants that tend to have leaflets in groups of three, so proper poison ivy plant identification requires looking into other characteristics. Knowing how to identify the poison ivy plant is the best way to avoid it, to protect yourself from getting the itchy rash that poison ivy causes.

Shape and Color

The leaves on the poison ivy plant can be various shapes. Some are more round, and others are more narrow. The color of young poison ivy leaves is red or light brown. When the leaves mature, they turn green. Near the end of their lives, the leaves turn yellow, orange and red.

Leaf Arrangement

Poison ivy leaves grow in bunches of three, but so do many other plants. The way the three leaves are arranged can help determine if the plant is poison ivy. The leaves on a poison ivy plant are arranged in a way that there is one leaf on the top of the group, with two leaves together farther below on the stem of the plant. The two lower leaves originate from the same place on the stem, so they are opposite each other.

Berries

The poison ivy plant grows green and white flowers in the spring that mature into berries over the summer. The flowers grow in groups of two to six. The berries are an off-white color.

Aerial Roots

When a poison ivy plant grows into a large vine, additional roots grow on the stem of the plant. These are called aerial roots. They give the vine a hairy appearance.

Poison Oak

Poison oak is very similar to poison ivy. To differentiate poison oak from poison ivy, look for characteristics that are specific to poison oak. The leaves on the poison oak plant grow into groups of five. Poison oak leaves are a duller green and the leaves have hairs on their surface.

References

• Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide: Poison Ivy
• University of Missouri Extension: Poison Ivy Identification and Control