# eastern poison ivy (*Toxicodendron radicans*) Eastern poison ivy is a plant that can make your skin itchy if you touch it. It has shiny green leaves that grow in groups of three. Be careful around this plant when you're exploring nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Snaps:** 99 - **Habitat:** Forests ![eastern poison ivy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Toxicodendron_radicans.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toxicodendron_radicans.jpg) ## Appearance The eastern poison ivy has leaves grouped in three leaflets, which can be glossy green, sometimes notched or lobed, and turn brilliant red or orange in fall. It grows as a low-lying plant, a dense shrub, or a climbing vine using hairy aerial roots to cling to surfaces. Its small greenish-white flowers are inconspicuous. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Toxicodendron ## Interesting facts - Even smoke from burning poison ivy can cause a severe rash if you breathe it into your lungs! - Its 'leaves of three' rule can be tricky, as leaflet shapes can look quite different! - Many animals, including deer and goats, can eat poison ivy without getting a rash! - Urushiol oil can stay active on objects for years, causing a rash long after touching the plant! ## Special abilities - **Irritant Shield:** Eastern poison ivy has a unique oily resin, urushiol, that helps it defend against many herbivores by causing an irritating rash. - **Versatile Climber:** This plant can grow as a groundcover or climb tall trees and walls using specialized aerial roots, helping it reach sunlight. - **Adaptable Survivor:** Eastern poison ivy can thrive in many environments, from dense shade to full sun, helping it survive in diverse habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats its berries, helping to spread seeds - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves without suffering ill effects - **Eats:** [Northern Flicker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-flicker) (*Colaptes auratus*) — consumes its berries during migration ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. - [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High If you see a plant with three leaves, don't touch it! Always tell an adult if you find it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify eastern poison ivy? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is eastern poison ivy? 10-100 cm ### How wide does eastern poison ivy spread? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on eastern poison ivy? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does eastern poison ivy bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is eastern poison ivy edible? No ### Is eastern poison ivy toxic? High ### What is eastern poison ivy's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackhand-gorge-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see eastern poison ivy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-poison-ivy) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Eastern Poison Ivy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-poison-ivy)