Recognized by its three shiny, saw-toothed pointed leaves, the poison ivy plant can cause severe medical problems. Avoidance is best! Ralph LaPlant Photo

Growing in all of the United States, except Alaska and Hawaii, poison ivy is a notorious pest. As with most toxic substances, it is best to avoid contact. To do that you will need to recognize poison ivy and learn where it grows.

The poison ivy plants have the following characteristics:

Shiny green leaves that are in groups of three, pointed and slightly toothed

Long center stalk

Loosely clustered white berries (in fall and winter)

Poison ivy grows in thickets in and near woods and often climbs trees, in some cases, up to 100 feet. Plants can also be ground-dwellers. Poison ivy has been observed growing in flower and vegetable gardens, as well. If in doubt as whether or not a plant is poison ivy… STAY AWAY FROM IT!    

All parts of the poison ivy plant are toxic. The sap, on leaves, is especially toxic. In many cases, the slightest contact will cause symptoms. Smoke from burning poison ivy is toxic as well. With over 2/3 of the population being susceptible to the oil on poison ivy’s leaves, most should avoid this sumac.

The most frequent signs and symptoms of contact poison ivy are swelling, pain, inflammation and eventually ulcers of the skin. Itching comes with all of this, for most. For those who are more vulnerable, there is a possibility of an anaphylactic reaction and/or shock to occur. There can be respiratory distress, weakness, facial swelling and a tingly feeling of the face, mouth, chest and extremities and in very severe cases, unconsciousness and death.

The first thing to do when coming into contact with poison ivy is to get away from it.  If only localized signs and symptoms involving only the skin are present, flood the area with large amounts of water and remove contaminated clothing including shoes and jewelry. Then continue washing effected areas, using soap and water. If no soap is available, still use water and lots of it. To be safe, seek medical attention. Calamine lotion may provide temporary relief for itching. Seek medical attention as complications could follow.


If the symptoms include wheezing, facial and air passage swelling and tingling, you will immediately need to seek medical attention and in cases when the victim is known to be hypersensitive to poison ivy, you might assist the victim with administering any medications they might have with them for this problem. Worse- cases scenarios require resuscitation.

Even though poison ivy is toxic, there are some benefits derived from these plants. The fluid extracted from fresh leaves has been used to sedate the central nervous system. The bark from roots has been used to treat urinary incontinence. Other uses include using the plant’s extract for making indelible ink for boot and shoe dressing. No thanks… I will pass!