Poison ivy
September 4, 2015
Print
EmailToxicodendron radicans (L.) Ktze.
Life cycle
Perennial woody vine.
Poison ivy foliage.
Leaves
Alternate, compound with three shiny leaflets. Leaflet margins may be smooth, toothed or lobed. The side leaflets occur on very short stalks; the middle leaflet occurs on a much longer stalk. Leaves may turn bright red in the fall. Contact with any part of this plant can cause a reaction in sensitive people.
Compound leaf of poison ivy.
Stems
Shrubby or climbing, woody vines are supported by aerial roots.
Poison ivy stem.
Flowers and fruit
Small, inconspicuous, yellow to green flowers have five petals. Fruit are gray to white berries (drupes).
Poison ivy flower.
Reproduction
Seeds, creeping roots and stems, which may root if in contact with the ground.
Print a PDF of this page: Poison Ivy
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Potential sources of labor: Are these in your future plans?
Published on February 29, 2016
-
Morrill Act turns 150 years old
Published on June 12, 2012
-
Options for pasturing livestock near water in Michigan
Published on May 5, 2011
-
Proper manure management is important for everyone, including small-scale livestock or horse farms
Published on August 19, 2014
-
Don’t become another deadly statistic
Published on May 23, 2018
-
Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources event to focus on soil health
Published on January 12, 2016
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.