Poison ivy check
Is this poison ivy? Check a leaf from a photo before you touch it
Is this poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, or a look-alike? Upload a photo of the leaf: the check names the plant, shows the clues, and says what to do next.
The result
What the poison ivy check tells you about the leaf
One leaf photo, one report. It answers the safety question first, then what to do.
The most likely name of the plant the leaf comes from, with how sure the match is, and the look-alikes to rule out.
One plain answer about poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. There is no "safe" answer: a photo cannot promise that.
- Poison ivy, oak or sumac
- Could be: treat it as one
- A look-alike, with the clue
What the photo shows and what it does not: the leaflets, the middle stalk, the edges, a hairy vine, the berries.
What to wash and how soon, what the rash usually looks like, and when to see a doctor.
How to clear it from a yard or garden without touching it: gloves and long sleeves, never burning, and when to ask a professional.
How the oil travels on fur, clothes and tools, and who to call if a child or a pet ate part of a plant: Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or your vet.
Method
How the poison ivy check works
- 01
Take a photo without touching
Step back and photograph the leaf and the stem it grows from, in daylight. A photo from your gallery works too.
- 02
Say where you saw it
The trail, the yard or the garden, and the region: poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac grow in different places.
- 03
Get the verdict and the clues
The check names the plant and gives one plain answer, with the clues it used, so you can look for them yourself.
- 04
Follow the next steps
What to wash if you touched it, how to clear it from the yard, and when to see a doctor. Check again with a new photo after you clear it.
Reference
What does poison ivy look like? Leaves, vines and berries
Poison ivy grows three ways: as a vine climbing a tree, as a bush or shrub, or as a carpet on the ground. Look for these clues together, not one alone.
- Leaves of three
Each leaf has three leaflets, and the leaflet in the middle has a longer stalk than the two at the sides.
- Leaf edges
Smooth, wavy, lobed or toothed; some leaves look like oak leaves. Where there are teeth, there are a few big ones, not dozens of small ones.
- Colour by season
Reddish in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange or red in the fall, in many shades of green in between.
- A hairy vine
On trees and posts the vine is covered in thin, hairy roots that anchor it: "hairy rope, don't be a dope".
- Flowers and berries
Mature plants flower and carry clusters of small white or green-white berries, which often stay on through the winter.
- Western poison ivy
A low shrub with three leaves that does not form a climbing vine.
Source: Mass Audubon (How to Recognize Poison Ivy); FDA; Clemson HGIC; CDC/NIOSH, as of
Reference
What does poison ivy, oak and sumac look like?
All three release the same oil, urushiol, when the plant is damaged, and touching it can give an itchy, red allergic rash. They look different.
| Plant | How it grows | The leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Poison ivy | A vine or small shrub, trailing on the ground or climbing low plants, trees and poles | Three glossy leaflets with smooth or toothed edges |
| Poison oak | A low shrub in the East and South; tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific Coast | Fuzzy green leaflets in threes, lobed or deeply toothed with rounded tips |
| Poison sumac | A tall shrub or small tree in bogs and swamps | Seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets per leaf, in pairs: "leaves of three" does not apply |
- Plant
- Poison ivy
- A vine or small shrub, trailing on the ground or climbing low plants, trees and poles
- Three glossy leaflets with smooth or toothed edges
- Plant
- Poison oak
- A low shrub in the East and South; tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific Coast
- Fuzzy green leaflets in threes, lobed or deeply toothed with rounded tips
- Plant
- Poison sumac
- A tall shrub or small tree in bogs and swamps
- Seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets per leaf, in pairs: "leaves of three" does not apply
Some poison ivy and poison oak have more than three leaves, and their look changes with the species, the place and the season.
Source: FDA (Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants); CDC/NIOSH (Poisonous Plants), as of
Reference
How to tell poison ivy from its look-alikes
Many plants that are not poison ivy also have leaves in threes. These are the ones it is most often confused with, and the clue that tells them apart.
- Virginia creeper
- Grows on the ground and up trees like poison ivy, but its leaves come in groups of five leaflets, not three.
- Box-elder seedlings
- Young shoots often have three leaflets, but box-elder grows as a tree, not a vine.
- Clematis
- A vine with three leaflets that climbs by twisting its leaf stalks around a support, without poison ivy's root-like tendrils.
- Raspberries
- Some have leaflets in threes edged with dozens of small teeth, where poison ivy has smooth edges or a few big teeth.
- Poison oak
- Not a look-alike to relax about: lobed or scalloped leaflets in threes, sometimes five, usually on a shrub. It causes the same kind of rash.
Source: Clemson HGIC; University of Arkansas Extension (Plant of the Week: Poison Ivy); Mass Audubon, as of
Photos
How to photograph a leaf for the poison ivy check
The clues are in the leaflets, the stalks and the vine, so get them in focus without touching the plant.
Do
Show the whole leaf
All the leaflets, where they meet, and the stalk that joins them to the stem.
Include the stem or vine
Hairy roots on a vine are a strong clue to poison ivy.
Use daylight
Colour matters: red young leaves, glossy green in summer, red and orange in the fall.
Add berries if you see them
Clusters of white or green-white berries help tell it apart.
Don't
Do not touch or pick it
Urushiol is in every part of the plant. Zoom in instead.
Do not handle dead vines
Dead plants and roots can still cause a rash.
Use daylight, not flash
Daylight shows the gloss and the true colour of the leaves best.
Touched poison ivy? Wash first, then watch the skin
Wash the skin with soap and water, or rubbing alcohol, as soon as you can, and scrub under the nails. Wash clothes, shoes, tools and pets that touched it. Call 911 or go to an emergency room for swelling or difficulty breathing; see a doctor if the rash reaches the eyes, mouth or genitals or shows pus.
Scope
What a poison ivy check from a photo can and cannot tell
A photo can show
- Whether a leaf looks like poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac
- The look-alikes it may be, and the clue that tells them apart
- The name of the plant when it is one of the look-alikes
- What to do if you touched it, and how to clear it from the yard
Only an expert with it in hand can tell
- That a plant is safe to touch: there is never a "safe" answer
- Whether a rash is from poison ivy: a doctor can tell
- Every leaf in every season: a bare winter vine is hard to name
Pages about poison ivy describe it. This check looks at your own photo of the leaf, then says what to do: wash, clear it or see a doctor.
Next
After the poison ivy check: what to do next
If the verdict is poison ivy, oak or sumac, or could be, treat it as one.
- 01
Keep children and pets away
Pets are usually not sensitive to the oil, but it sticks to their fur: wash a pet that brushed the plant with pet shampoo, wearing rubber gloves.
- 02
Clear it with gloves on, never with fire
Wear long sleeves, long pants and gloves, and wash them apart from the rest of the laundry. Do not burn it: the CDC warns that the smoke can irritate the lungs.
CDC on burning - 03
Wash what touched it
The oil can stay on clothes, shoes and tools for a long time, even years. Wash them with water and soap, or rubbing alcohol.
- 04
See a doctor when the rash is bad
A fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, pus, a rash on the face or genitals, a widespread and severe rash, or one that is not better after a few weeks.
FDA on poison ivy
A free poison ivy check online: no app, no account
The check runs in the browser on your phone, so you can take the photo on the trail or in the yard. Trying the form here is free: no card, no account and no trial, so there is nothing to cancel.
Limits
What a leaf photo cannot promise
The poison ivy check gives the most likely answer from one photo, not a certainty: poison ivy changes with the season and look-alikes grow beside it. It never says a plant is safe to touch. It is not medical advice: for a bad rash see a doctor, and for swelling or difficulty breathing call 911.
FAQ
Poison ivy questions
How can I tell if it's poison ivy from a photo?
Look for three leaflets with the middle one on a longer stalk, edges smooth or with a few big teeth, and a hairy vine. The check looks for the same clues in your photo and shows which ones it found.
How reliable is poison ivy identification from a photo?
A photo is a good start, not a promise. The CDC says poison ivy's look varies with the species, the place and the season, and that look-alikes grow in the same areas. If the check is unsure, the verdict says "could be": treat it as poison ivy.
What does poison ivy and oak look like side by side?
Poison ivy has glossy leaflets in threes, smooth or toothed, as a vine or shrub. Poison oak has fuzzy, lobed or deeply toothed leaflets with rounded tips, in threes, sometimes five, and usually grows as a shrub.
What 5-leaf plant can be mistaken for poison ivy?
Virginia creeper. It climbs trees and covers the ground like poison ivy, but its leaves have five leaflets rather than three (Clemson HGIC).
How can you tell if it's poison ivy when the plant changes colour through the seasons?
The leaflets (usually three) and the longer middle stalk stay the same through the seasons. The colour changes: reddish in spring, green in summer, yellow, orange or red in the fall (FDA).
Does poison ivy turn red in the fall?
Yes. The FDA describes its leaves as yellow, orange or red in the fall, and reddish in spring.
Is poison ivy still active when dead?
Yes. Clemson HGIC says dead plants or roots may cause allergic reactions for a couple of years, and Mass Audubon that the vines can still cause a reaction after the leaves die back.
What does poison ivy look like when it first starts on skin, and when should I worry?
Usually red, itchy bumps, then blisters, where the oil touched the skin; a few people get black spots instead (American Academy of Dermatology). Call 911 for swelling or difficulty breathing, and see a doctor for a fever, pus, or a rash near the eyes, mouth or genitals.
How long does poison ivy rash last?
The American Academy of Dermatology says the rash usually clears in about 2 to 3 weeks without treatment, and can last longer the first time you get one. See a doctor if it is not improving within a few weeks (FDA).
How do I quickly get rid of a poison ivy rash, and what should I not put on it?
Wash the oil off fast with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Clemson HGIC warns that soaps with oils, such as complexion soaps, can spread the oil. For itching, the CDC and MedlinePlus name calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream; ask a pharmacist or doctor.
What does Dawn dish soap do to poison ivy?
The CDC lists dishwashing soap, with lots of water, among ways to wash urushiol off the skin, along with rubbing alcohol and poison plant washes. Rinse often so the wash does not dry on the skin.
Can poison ivy live on bed sheets?
The oil can stay on clothing and other surfaces until it is washed off (FDA). Wash sheets and clothes that touched it separately, in hot water with detergent (CDC).
Is a poison ivy rash contagious, and does scratching spread it?
No. The FDA says the rash cannot be spread from person to person, and the fluid in blisters is not the plant oil. New patches come from oil still on the skin, under the nails, or on clothes and tools.
Can a photo tool tell if a plant or leaf is poisonous to pets?
The check flags poison ivy, oak and sumac, but it never says a plant is safe for a pet. Pets are usually not sensitive to poison ivy, but the oil on their fur can give you a rash (FDA). For other plants, ask your vet or the ASPCA poison line, (888) 426-4435.
Why isn't the app identifying my plant correctly, and what if the match looks wrong?
Retake the photo with the whole leaf, its stalk and the stem in focus, in daylight. The report shows the clues it used and how sure it is, so you can see where it may be wrong. When in doubt, do not touch the plant.
Is this poison ivy check free online, or do I need to download an app?
It runs online in the browser, with nothing to download. Trying the form here is free.
Is there a truly free leaf identifier without a subscription trap?
Trying this form asks for no card, no account and no trial, so nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel.
What about yellow leaves or black spots on my plants?
That is a plant health question: the plant identifier checks leaves for yellowing, spots and holes and gives a care plan.
Not sure about that plant with leaves of three?
Take a photo from a step away, without touching it. The check says whether it is poison ivy, oak or sumac and what to do next.