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Help, Is this poison ivy, sumac, or oak?

9 years ago

Hello,
I am moving into this house on Monday. I noticed in the backyard there are several bushes that look like poinson ivy. I don't even know if they could be considered bushes, they are more like weeds. they also have thorns on them in some place. There are some with 3 leaves and some with 5 leaves. I am very allergic to poison ivy, possibly the others too, and would need something done fast if it one of the poison oak,sumac, or ivy.

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Comments (8)

jean001a
9 years ago
The one on the left appears to be a blackberry. Weedy kinds are abundant in my region; where do you live?

Can't see detail of plant on right side to know.
Kimmsr
9 years ago
The urushiol that causes the rash is present in all three of those plants, so anyone that reacts to one will react to all three. Poison Sumac has a very limited growth area, generally very wet places, so it is unlikely to be found where it is high and dry. But the other two do grow almost everywhere, although I have not seen any in years.
Poison Ivy is a vine. Poison Oak tends to be more of a shrub and the leaves closely resemble those of Oaks, Poison Sumac is a shrub and looks similar to most of the other Sumacs.
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Thanks so much, I really appreciate the help. If anyone else has thoughts, please respond, but I agree after doing a search it looks like clematis virginiana.
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It would be helpful to know what kind of hedges you're dealing with. With many hedging shrubs (e.g. privet, even boxwoods) would tolerate, perhaps even be rejuvenated by hard pruning. You could cut the hedges back almost to the ground and then spray the poison oak and poison ivy with glyphosate (Roundup) or a brush killer (my recommendation). I did this successfully with a hedge of privet, and then decided later in the season I hated the privet anyhow and removed the hedge altogether. If you have a mature hedge of English boxwood or something that you don't want to risk hacking up, you're pretty much looking at doing it the hard way... pulling it all out by hand. No matter how good a job you do, you'll have some survive and come up again later in the season or next year. I am not sensitive to poison oak, ivy or sumac (would love to give you a hand)... I can do this type of work with no more protection than gloves (and small jobs I do barehanded). This might be one of those annoying occasions where it would be worthwhile to pay someone to take on this task. Your neighborhood lawn service would probably take on a small job like this for a reasonable fee. Let us know what you decide and how it works out. ;) -S
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Thinking poison ivy. https://www.prismhealthadvocates.com/truths-myths-poison-ivy-poison-oak-poison-sumac/
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All forms and parts of poison ivy, dead or alive, are poisonous. Very difficult to eradicate. Early every spring I get a can of white spray paint and spray every plant I can find. It won’t kill it but at least I know it’s there and avoid it like the plague! A couple times each season (not before a wedding or photo shoot!) I glove up with rubber gloves, long pants and sleeves. I use a gallon plastic baggie over my gloved hand and carefully rip as much out as the bag will hold. Don’t forget the roots and runners. I invert the baggie over the plant and toss in a yard bag. If I’m persistent the plant will eventually weaken. I don’t use weed killer because if it is unrecognizable then I can’t tell it’s there. It is still poisonous dead or alive!
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pontyrogof
9 years ago
The video linked below should help you rule out PI this time and be better able to id it next time. Note that PI never has thorns.

Sorry about the ad, but the featured video is great for your purpose. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: poison ivy id video
jean001a
9 years ago
Need images of a branch/stem of each plant isolated against a plain background.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
The plants to left and right are Rubus species, blackberries, as stated above.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Looks like Parthenocissus on the right, Virginia creeper. You can see leaves of 5 leaflets. Agreed, berry vine on the left.

In the corner, could be a maple tree. Doesn't look like there's room for a tree there. Not sure what the other tall thing is.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
I'm pretty certain the one on the right is a Rubus, not Parthenocissus. The stiff stems, the way the tip grows upwards, what look like thorns and the leaf shape all point to Rubus imo. Perhaps the OP could tell us if it has prickles.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Excellent, I may have been going too fast, while hungry...

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