DealDash Teaches: Poison Ivy
Identifying Poison Ivy and its nasty friends Poison Oak and Poison Sumac can be difficult for someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time outdoors. Here’s a quick and easy guide.
If you and your family are spending some time outdoors this summer, anywhere from your own backyard, parks, wooded areas, lakes, etc. it is very important that you are able to tell the difference between the poisonous plants and the regular plants.
The quick identifier has always been “Leaves of three, let it be.” However, did you know that the leaves of Poison Ivy aren’t always even green? The leaves actually change colors as the seasons change.
- Reddish in the spring
- Green in the summer
- Yellow, orange, or red in the fall
Poison Ivy is extremely common, you can find it in every U.S. state, except for Alaska and Hawaii. Since it’s so common it’s important that you are able to spot it, otherwise you are going to have a very itchy time. Below are some pictures of Poison Ivy so you can familiarize yourself with its different appearances.
Poison Ivy is the most common, but it has a nasty cousin called Poison Oak. It’s quite similar to Poison Ivy, it also grows in three leaves. They are shaped in lobes that look like the leaves of an oak tree. Depending on where you live they grow a little bit differently. The plant grows in low shrubs in the eastern U.S, but on the Pacific Coast, it grows in long vines.
Poison Sumac is also a cousin of Poison Ivy, but it is a little different to identify. Poison Sumac’s leaves grow in groups of seven to 13 along its stems. Luckily, Poison Sumac is less common than the other two. Poison sumac is most common in the Midwest, however it can also be found up and down the East Coast.
I hope this quick guide has helped you become more aware of some of the poison plants that we have lurking about in the outdoors. If you are planning on spending lots of time in the outdoors, you should check out DealDash! DealDash has a category called Hobbies, Toys, Outdoors, and Games that you can find at this link right here. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!
