If growing in rocky places, it tends to take over from all other vegetation. If growing near something like a tree or a fence, it will twine itself around the object as it grows, creating a dense mass of vegetation which cannot be crossed.
Pointy tips: The three closely-connected leaflets should all have pointy tips Bigger middle leaf: The 2 lateral (side) leaflets are smaller than the terminal (end or middle) leaf. Stem vs. no stem: The center leaf almost always has a small stem, whereas the 2 side leaflets grow directly from the vine and don’t have small stems. Waxy on top, fuzzy on bottom: The leaves can appear in a variety of shades of green, but they tend to be a darker, waxy green on top. The underside of the leaves typically looks lighter in color and fuzzier. Seasonal color changes: In the spring, the leaves are usually a bright green color, whereas in the fall, they turn red (poison ivy) or bright red/orange (poison oak)[1] X Research source Sometimes shiny: The leaves will often have a shiny appearance to them, but don’t rely on shininess alone as an indicator – especially if it has rained recently.
The oil content is highest on the plants in the spring and summer months. If you accidentally touch poison ivy, you’ll get a rash with patches or streaks of red, raised blisters on your skin. If that happens, use a steroid cream and calamine lotion. You can also take an oral antihistamine for the itching. [6] X Expert Source Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAIBoard Certified Allergist Expert Interview. 29 July 2020.
If you see a plant that has all the characteristics, but have regular, uniformly shaped leaves, or sharp tips on the edges, it’s not likely to be poison ivy. Poison ivy has tips that are more randomly spaced and somewhat curved between the tips along the edges.
