Poison ivy and poison oak

Description: These two plants are quite similar in appearance and will often crossbreed to make a hybrid. Both have alternate, compound leaves with three leaflets. The leaves of poison ivy are smooth or serrated. Poison oak's leaves are lobed and resemble oak leaves. Poison ivy grows as a vine along the ground or climbs by red feeder roots. Poison oak grows like a bush. The greenish-white flowers are small and inconspicuous and are followed by waxy green berries that turn waxy white or yellow, then gray.

Habitat and Distribution: Poison ivy and oak can be found in almost any habitat in North America.

For information on a specific poisonous plant, click on one of the links below:

- Castor bean, castor-oil plant, palma Christi   - Chinaberry   - Cowhage, cowage, cowitch   - Death camas, death lily   - Lantana   - Manchineel   - Oleander   - Pangi   - Physic nut   - Poison hemlock, fool's parsley   - Poison ivy and poison oak   - Poison sumac   - Rosary pea or crab's eyes   - Strychnine tree   - Trumpet vine or trumpet creeper   - Water hemlock or spotted cowbane