# Pacific poison oak (*Toxicodendron diversilobum*) Pacific poison oak is a plant that can look like a bush or a vine. It has shiny leaves that can change colors with the seasons, making it interesting to see in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Snaps:** 27 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Poison Oak ![Pacific poison oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/PoisonOak_wb_biggerLeaves.jpg&width=800) Photo: Elf ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PoisonOak_wb_biggerLeaves.jpg) ## Appearance The Pacific poison oak is a highly variable plant, growing as a low shrub or a climbing vine. Its glossy leaves grow in distinctive clusters of three, often turning vibrant red, orange, or yellow in autumn, making it visually distinct. It does not have thorns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Toxicodendron ## Interesting facts - Birds eat its berries and help spread its seeds far and wide! - It's not actually an oak, but a relative of cashews and mangoes! - Just one billionth of a gram of its oil can cause an itchy rash! - The itchy oil can stay active on dead plants or clothes for years! ## Special abilities - **Growth Master:** This plant can grow as a low shrub or a climbing vine, helping it reach sunlight in diverse environments. - **Spreading Roots:** It has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread widely and quickly colonize new areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-600 cm - **Spread:** 50-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Mule deer can eat its leaves without harm. - **Depends on:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins eat its berries, helping to spread the seeds. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit the small, inconspicuous flowers for nectar. ## 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 Do not touch this plant, as it can make your skin itchy and uncomfortable. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pacific poison oak? 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 Pacific poison oak? 15-600 cm ### How wide does Pacific poison oak spread? 50-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Pacific poison oak? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Pacific poison oak bloom? Spring ### Is Pacific poison oak edible? No ### Is Pacific poison oak toxic? High ### What is Pacific poison oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Coloma](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coloma) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Pacific poison oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-poison-oak) ## 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: [Pacific poison oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-poison-oak)