How to Distinguish Poison Ivy from Its Look-a-likes

There are several plants out there that can be confused with poison ivy. Watch as Kerry Heafner takes us through a few of the plants mostly commonly mistaken for this itchy nuisance.

[@phu878]

You can skip right ahead to 0:45 without missing anything.

[@danjohnston2192]

Needs better lighting , more time on the actual leaves with more close ups

[@riker302011]

Helpful info but better camera shots of the vegetation being compared and explained would be even more beneficial.

[@weiser1971]

Thank you for the video,, a bit helpful but too far of a distant view of the leaves for this to be more helpful to me.

[@zesway]

Same, some up close side by side picture of poison ivy to the other plants shown in the video would have been helpful.

[@JohnWright10]

Thanks so much Kerry very helpful!!!

[@lrn_news9171]

Glad you mentioned Box elder, I was about to comment that haha

[@playdiscgolf1546]

My whole yard and woods grows those little dang Box Elder trees lol.

[@jannappi6561]

I'm having a hard time distinguishing between young Boston ivy and poison iv. You never even addressed it? To me it's the closest imposter. I need help. Besides the suction cups n shorter middle leaf stem how can you distinguish them?

[@itbarthur4u]

How does one tell the difference between Boston ivy and poison ivy? There is very little coverage on the details for this question.

[@JoinTheProgress]

So as long as there's no tendrils involved with turnately, pimately or pomately compound as compared to trifoliate.
...o-key-dokey. Got it.

[@freecycling6687]

Too far away to help identify. Also - what does "the leaves alternate" mean?

[@sirfizz6518]

That is to say that along any given stem, leaves may grow in pairs on opposite sides of the plant, or conversely they will alternate along the length of the stem.

[@freecycling6687]

@@sirfizz6518 Thanks!

[@patmcbride9853]

Blackberries, like roses, have prickles, not thorns.
Prickles grow on the stem and can be separated from it by pushing them sideways.
Thorns are modified shoots that are part of the stem.

[@reformedcraftsman3373]

Does peppervine make you itchy like poison ivy?

[@darkwolve]

What vine looks exactly like poison ivy but grows spiky red berries??
I'm trying to find out what this plant is before I dig it up.

[@Terri_Stauffer]

Dewberry looks exactly like poison ivy. Has red berries that turn black

[@paulelliott9487]

How do you identify the vines when the leaves are dead?

[@artichoke890]

Poison ivy vines look hairy when they are bigger growing up trees

[@IMiteBeWrong]

He rubbed his jeans all over "real" poison ivy while doing the comparison at the end...

[@sirfizz6518]

He might know how to effectively remove any oils from his clothing

[@phillipmerritt1428]

Very good, very helpful with me and grandchildren. Just gind your site. Came them coming. 🚶💀

[@billshiff2060]

A bunch of Blather about everything BUT poison ivy.

[@luckeychuckey70]

video moves to fast

[@cynthiaforney541]

Very hard to see the things you we’re describing.

[@ronniecox109]

Leaves three, quickly flee.

[@robertschmidt9296]

There's lots of leaves of three here and they are not poisonous. That one would be a reasonable advice for someone who is clueless about plants but not for me.

[@ronniecox109]

@@robertschmidt9296 ok my horticulturist friend, since there is lots of tricotleydon, or trifoliates, it shouldn't be hard to name 3.. one is Virginia creeper. What is the third poisonous tree , that grows along roadsides, prolific in the south. Makes poison oak ,and ivy, seem like a walk in the park if you get it on you.