Toxicodendron Species, Eastern Poison Ivy, Poison Ivy

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.

Spraying with 2% glyphosate herbicide will kill it. Wait till the leaves are fully expanded, wet them all using the coarsest spray setting. (That's to prevent accidental herbicide damage to desirable plants through spray drift---large droplets don't drift as far on the air.)

Wait at least two weeks more before cutting the stems. Dispose of it in landfill. Old, dried debris remains toxic for years.

Those who aren't allergic should know that repeated exposure can sensitize your immune system to the toxic resin. No one should expose themselves to it unnecessarily.

Barrier creams can help prevent contact with the res... read morein. Cleaning with Zanfel can help with the rash up to 48 hours after exposure.

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.

If you have a teen daughter, the boys won't crawl in (not more than once anyway), and she will never sneak out the window!

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!

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!

To begin to clear it out, my husband and I must have cut over 100 vines last fall, many go up 20ft. or more so getting them off the trees is not possible. Now the under-story is now flooded with seedings, some from the major roots, and others from seeds. What makes this even worse is that both my husband and I develop a nasty ITCHY WEEPING RASH from handling the stuff, even sometimes from the air. If it is burned the evil oil floats in the smoke and can invade the eyes, nose, ears, even the lungs.... read more It will be years before we can consider this killed off. For me, this is the nastiest thug in the yard, and we have Virgina Ceeper and Chinese Pivet to deal with as well. I hate it so...

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.

The only reason I am less affected is because my body learned how to protect itself when I was young. when i was 8 I had a bad rash that resulted in going to the children's hospital.

It's impossible to kill. this plant could survive a nuclear war. Humans are the only known animal to get a reaction.

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.

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.

That said, although it has little to no effect on me, my husband is HIGHLY allergic to it; thus I pull it out or apply a Roundup-type organic product to it whenever I find it. I can't imagine anyone purposely encouraging its existence, & doubt any wildlife depends on it solely for survival.

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).

I have two young boys (4&5) that only saw poison ivy in OK at Grandma's house until we moved here to Louisiana from Colorado.

Every chance I get I show them the leaves and describe the itchy reaction dramatically (from personal experience)! So far my warning has been heeded, as I stare at the bright green leaves encircling the base of a live oak tree. I know the birds did it (Which birds? 'mock'ingbirds, probably--hee, hee!)

"How little we know as yet of the life of plants----the... read moreir hopes and fears, pains and enjoyments!" (John Muir, "A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf"--1916, from above book referral).

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:

Before gardening or hunting, grease up with cold cream, Vaseline, or whatever greasy stuff is handy. This prevents the toxic oils from penetrating to your skin as quickly. If I am careful to wash thoroughly when I get back--and put my outer clothing directly in the washing machine--I don't get the rash. I have occasionally gotten the rash from s... read moreleeping with my hound, but a quick shower in the morning is enough to get rid of a light dose of second hand oil.

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.

My son is also allergic to it, and he gets it every time he visits, and he told me to use Dawn dishwashing detergent and don't... read more use alcohol, because the alcohol will spread it.

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).

It is true that birds like the seeds. Because of that, new seedlings come up all over the place if you allow seed bearing size plants on your property. I have been nearly overrun with this plant everywhere I have lived in this part of Missouri. Every hiking, camping, and fishing trip is one long ordeal of trying to avoid the plant. I used to try pulling it up, roots and all,... read more but I would inevitably get brushed by a wiry piece hitting my face and get a miserable rash.

Finally, my reactions got so bad I had to go to the doctor each time and get cortisone shots and pills to keep it from taking over my body. So, for a long time, I just gave up a big section of my property to the poison ivy and stayed out of it. That was a big mistake. The birds (and I LOVE birds) spread the seeds everywhere and I started getting it in my garden and flower beds. Now I am using a fine spray of Roundup on a good sunny day in May to kill a little more of it each year.

Some of the vines have reached tremendous size by the creek and have to be sawed down. My advice is to get rid of this plant as soon as you see it if you are allergic to it. Plant something else for the birds.

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.

I don't usually advertise a product, but several people said that Zanfel helps with the itching and pain:

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!