Toxicodendron Species, Eastern Poison Ivy, Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
Family: | Anacardiaceae (an-a-kard-ee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Toxicodendron (toks-ee-ko-DEN-dron) (Info) |
Species: | radicans (RAD-ee-kans) (Info) |
Category:
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Evergreen
Provides Winter Interest
Foliage Color:
Medium Green
Height:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing:
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pale Green
Chartreuse (yellow-green)
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
By simple layering
Seed Collecting:
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Wear gloves to protect hands when handling seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Cullman, Alabama
Jones, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fresno, California
San Anselmo, California
San Diego, California
Bartow, Florida
Lutz, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
Old Town, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Hawkinsville, Georgia
Batavia, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois
Mackinaw, Illinois
Hobart, Indiana
Ames, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Benton, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
South China, Maine
Brookeville, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Riverdale, Maryland
Milton, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Mount Morris, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Marietta, Mississippi
Mathiston, Mississippi
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Cole Camp, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Rogersville, Missouri
Dunellen, New Jersey
Beacon, New York
West Kill, New York
Clayton, North Carolina
Four Oaks, North Carolina
Henderson, North Carolina
Mooresville, North Carolina
Newton Grove, North Carolina
Norlina, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Smithfield, North Carolina
Wilsons Mills, North Carolina
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Clyde, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
New Carlisle, Ohio
Vinton, Ohio
Pocola, Oklahoma
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Conway, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(3 reports)
Dallas, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Spicewood, Texas
Edmond, West Virginia
Peterstown, West Virginia
Merrimac, Wisconsin
Oconto, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Negative | On Mar 10, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: This is such an aggressive weed that I'd need to control it even if it weren't toxic, in order to grow other plants. |
Neutral | On Jan 12, 2010, theNobody14161 from Mahtowa, MN wrote: This plant can give a rash, though the rash isnt nearly as bad as poison sumac. It used to run rampet with virginia creeper in the woods next door to my house, until garlic mustard destroyed it. |
Positive | On Jan 8, 2010, treehugggr from New Port Richey, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I have been cultivating Poison Ivy, and Toxicodendron rydbergii (Poison Oak) for years, as a "creep-deterrant" around windows and such. Works well when mixed with thorny plants. |
Neutral | On Jun 7, 2008, peachespickett from Huntington, AR wrote: Interesting thing I read....Twenty year-old herbarium specimens of poison ivy still gave rashes to the botanists examining them. Even though they had been dried out and setting in a drawer for twenty years, the oils were still potent enough to cause a reaction. Lucky for me I don't seem to be affected by it, though my Dad looks like a burn victim every time he gets done working in the woods. |
Negative | On May 29, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: I dislike this plant - as a additonal note: Here in Minnesota the poison ivy here tend to be subshrub - commonly less than 1 foot even thought I have seen one plant go to 3 feet! The vine form is rare or absent here. Subshrub means that it grows from a single woody stem. I have seen poison ivy from zone 3b (they seem to hate -30 degree rocky acidic soil so you will never see them in boreal forests) to the Everglades in Florida! |
Negative | On May 21, 2008, Lothar7 from Ames, IA wrote: I've sprayed, pulled then bagged these little demons for over a month now. I have been collecting the remains in a yard waste bag for disposal... However, after reading the warnings about burning this weed I'm concerned that I may be endangering someone by leaving this bag for curbside pickup (our local power plant burns trash). |
Negative | On Apr 27, 2008, sarazen from Glen Rock, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Nightmare plant. I have a small tree line behind my house and it is over-run with the stuff. It is so robust in this area, I had one vine that was easily 30 to 40 years old and had transformed into something of bonsai bush when the tree that supported it died and rotted away! |
Neutral | On Nov 28, 2007, creekwalker from Benton County, MO (Zone 5a) wrote: Fortunately, I have never been allergic to this plant, though there is always a first time. |
Negative | On Sep 22, 2007, tropicsofohio from Hilliard, OH (Zone 6b) wrote: I love to hate this plant, its invasive and even though I'm not as affected by it, I still hate it because I get that itchy little rash. |
Negative | On Sep 10, 2007, filthpig from Avon Lake, OH wrote: I just moved to an area in Ohio called Avon Lake. I think this is the mecca for poison ivy. Yes, I am allergic like so many. As a professional gardening landscaper, I can't help wonder why would anyone want to propagate this horrific plant. |
Neutral | On May 17, 2006, chicochi3 from Fayetteville, AR (Zone 6b) wrote: I'll give this a neutral because of the things in my yard that I hate even more. Like greenbriers. Porcelain berries. Virginia creeper. Honeysuckle. Boxwoods. After dealing with all these, the poison ivy isn't half bad. |
Negative | On Dec 20, 2005, winter_unfazed from Rural Webster County, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: This plant grows thick in some spots here, making it a nightmare to harvest the black raspberries that grow along with them. The only positive is that the sight of it deters traffic in places such as fences. |
Negative | On Oct 26, 2005, Breezymeadow from Culpeper, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: Except for its supposed importance to wildlife, I find absolutely nothing to recommend this plant. It spreads strongly & prodigiously, climbs high up into treetops here, eventually producing vines inches thick that can damage them. |
Positive | On Oct 25, 2005, c_etude from Winter Haven, FL wrote: Did you know you can bonsai just about any plant? This includes poison ivy. ALTHOUGH THE UTMOST CARE MUST BE DONE--AS IT HAS VERY ALLERGIC CAUSING SECRETIONS--personal protective equipment such as heavy gloves, goggles, and boil utensils after use. Incredibly, it makes a beautiful bonsai tree. Just don't touch it. The vine itself IS quite beautiful. (Yes you can make bonsai trees out of any vine, including english ivy, and whatever else you can think of!) |
Positive | On Jun 26, 2004, megamuffin from Baton Rouge, LA wrote: I know this sounds crazy, but after days of contemplating what to do about a patch of poison ivy, I decided to make friends with it (read book "Growing Myself- A Spiritual Journey Through Gardening" by Judith Handelsman--very enlightening perspective). |
Negative | On Jun 16, 2004, Wingnut from Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I'm another person who has a severe allergy to poison ivy. |
Neutral | On Jun 12, 2004, CatskillKarma from West Kill, NY wrote: I live in the Catskill mountains where poison ivy is endemic. I am highly susceptible to the rash and did my best to avoid it until I took up night hunting with hounds for raccoons. Before then, I had several bouts lasting longer than the doctors said was possible and have scars to prove it. Since taking up hunting in the dark, though, I haven't been able to avoid poison ivy. But, other hunters showed me how to keep it to a minimum: |
Negative | On Jan 24, 2004, MotherNature4 from Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: Yes, short haired dogs certainly can get a rash from poison ivy. Our dachshund's belly was covered with it after running through a patch growing on the ground. Mother Nature |
Negative | On Jan 24, 2004, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote: I have six acres of this plant, and although I am 1/8 Native American, Cherokee tribe, I am highly allergic to it. I love my property, but this plant and the also highly toxic (to me) trumpet creeper have made gardening here very miserable for me at times. After over 25 years as an organic gardener, I have had to finally resort to Roundup (after reading everything I could on the internet about it) as there is no way to pull up the ever present roots physically without getting some of the plant on me. This plant also keeps me from petting my dog, as dogs do not have reactions to this plant, but I can certainly get it from her just by petting her. |
Neutral | On Jan 24, 2004, antkneeh from Topeka, KS wrote: I've always been fortunate not to be allergic to any of the 'leaves of three' plants. I am a Native American and wanted to pass on this old wives tale. I was told that if, in spring, you ingest a small amount of the leaf, that it would render you immune to the plant for the year. I don't advise this, as it is a highly dangerous plant, especially if you are allergic. |
Negative | On Jan 24, 2004, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: Even though I took this plant's name as my Dave's ID, I did so because I figured it was so despised that no one else would be using it, not because I like the plant. I have had many severe reactions to the toxins in this plant, both from skin contact and smoke inhalation (The latter almost killed me as a child, my throat nearly swelled shut, along with my eyes. It took 3 weeks to get over that episode). |
Negative | On Jan 24, 2004, wnstarr from Puyallup, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: Why would anyone want this poisonous plant on or near their property? It is very striking in the fall when the foliage has colored up. But this has lead to many a person getting infected by picking fall foliage. The old boy scout warning about leaves in groups of threes is true. Do not touch, burn or eat any part of this plant. |
Neutral | On Jan 23, 2004, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: It is a plant that has been put here on earth for a reason. It does have a nice fall color.Other comments about not being bothered by this plant may explain why I am not very susceptible to its poisons. I am of Native American ancestry on my maternal grandmother's side of my family. |
Positive | On Jan 23, 2004, Ewald from Limerick, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: It grows luxuriantly and has pretty red fall color. It's suitable for poor soils, or just cracks in pavement, in urban areas. No one plants it, but its good for growing on a fence to dissuade climbers. It feeds birds... but I still pull it out whenever I find it in my back yard. I just thought someone should have something nice to say about it. |
Negative | On Oct 7, 2002, FranG from Brighton, MA wrote: The leaves at any stage, the stems, and the roots are all poisonous. Never burn to destroy! The smoke inhaled can kill! |
Neutral | On Aug 31, 2001, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote: "Leaves of three, let it be!" This member of the cashew family emits toxins through its foliage that are highly irritating to many people. Sometimes the rash will not show up for several hours or even days; but if you have a brush with poison ivy, prompt action can avoid an outbreak. Ideally, within within 10 minutes swab the area with rubbing alcohol (washing with soap and water may just spread it around further.) |