How tall does poison oak grow

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Topic Overview Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are found throughout the continental United States.

Poison ivy: Usually has three broad, spoon-shaped leaves or leaflets, but it can have more. The phrase, "Leaves of three? Let it be. Grows as a climbing vine or a low, spreading vine that sprawls through grass more common in eastern states or as a shrub more common in northern states, Canada, and the Great Lakes region.

Often grows along rivers, lake fronts, and ocean beaches. Has bright red leaves and white or cream berries in the autumn. Poison oak Poison oak is most common in the western United States, although it is also found in eastern states. Poison oak: Has leaves that look like oak leaves, usually three leaflets but sometimes up to seven on each leaf group.

Grows as a vine or a shrub. An alternative to oatmeal is baking soda. Recognizing poison sumac is essential to avoiding a really painful allergic reaction that manifests as a red, itchy rash or blisters. Poison sumac grows as a shrub or a tree that can be as tall as 30 feet or even taller in some cases. The tree tends to seem pretty barren because the leaves grow in a relatively open pattern and not as dense foliage. A large tree will generally have long and thin branches that sag downwards.

The hanging branches increase your chances of brushing against it walking by. However, before poison sumac becomes a tree, it grows as a small plant with leaves that point up. They have small branches with red stems and double rows of between six and twelve leaves on each stem, with an extra leaf at the tip of the stem.

The leaves are oval or oblong and taper to a point at the end. The sides of the leaves might be wavy or smooth but aren't jagged. The leaves change color with the seasons, like poison oak and poison ivy. During spring and summer, poison sumac may have pale green or yellow flowers which grow in clusters along separate green stems. In the summer, the plant might replace its flowers with small yellow or green berries, which turn white or grey during fall and winter.

Please note that even fallen leaves can still be poisonous. And never use poison sumac for a fire, because inhaling the smoke can be extremely dangerous. Treating poison sumac is just like treating poison ivy or poison oak.

All you can really do is alleviate the itching by using calamine lotion and applying cold compresses to the area. Antihistamines can also help reduce inflammation. In all cases, you should wash anything that came into contact with the plant to ensure you remove the toxic oil that transferred from the plant. This includes your skin and any gear or clothing as you don't want to be re-exposed. At Augusta Health, we provide the option of Urgent Care for immediate but serious medical need. If you come into contact with any of these poison plants, Augusta Health is here to provide the care you need!

Poison ivy is found in a wide variety of habitats but is especially common in wooded areas, along forest edges, and in urban green spaces. Poison oak is typically found in dry pine and scrub oak forests or other dry sites. Poison sumac is a close relative of poison ivy and poison oak, but it looks very different. The leaflets, which are arranged along the stem in pairs figure 5 , are oblong with sharply pointed tips and smooth or somewhat wavy edges.

The stems and leaf stalks often are a bright red color. Poison sumac grows as a shrub or small tree, reaching up to 20 feet tall, and is typically found only in open or wooded swampy areas. Smooth, greenish white fruit produced during late summer may persist on the plant through the fall and winter. Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia and poison ivy often grow together and are frequently confused with each other. Young Virginia creeper leaves or those that have been damaged may occasionally have three leaflets, but most have five figure 6.

Poison ivy never has five leaflets. Plants of both species often have a reddish center where the leaflets join. Another difference between the two is that Virginia creeper vines are much less hairy than poison ivy vines.

Virginia creeper has fewer, more widely spaced rootlets, and some rootlets have small attachment disks at the ends figure 7. Only rarely does contact with Virginia creeper leaves or stems cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.

The plant is generally considered harmless, although the fruit can be harmful if eaten. Box elder Acer negundo seedlings have leaves with three leaflets and can look like poison ivy at first glance. Box elder leaves, however, are arranged opposite each other along the stem figure 8 ; poison ivy leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.

Climbing hydrangea Decumaria barbara vines are hairy and may appear very similar to poison ivy, but they have opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges or just a few shallow teeth figure 9. Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica is often mistaken for poison oak, and both grow in similar habitats. One difference is that the leaflets of fragrant sumac are attached at a single point, while the terminal leaflet of poison oak has a short stem.

Also, the fruit of the fragrant sumac plant is red figure Smooth sumac Rhus glabra and winged sumac Rhus copallinum are commonly occurring shrubs that may be mistaken for poison sumac, but there are several clear differences. The leaflets of smooth sumac have teeth along the edges and are greater in number eleven to thirty-one than those seen in poison sumac figure Winged sumac is easily identified by the leafy wings along the leaf stalk figure Neither species is likely to cause skin irritation, although some people may be sensitive to the sap.

The fruits of both nonpoisonous sumacs are red figure 13 , unlike those of poison sumac. Touching any of the three poisonous species may result in a red, swollen, and painful rash of itchy blisters.

Rashes can occur in patches or in streaks and lines. About 85 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, the oily compound responsible for the skin reaction. Urushiol is found in all parts of these plants. Simply touching the leaves may expose you to the oil, and additional oil is released when plant parts are crushed or damaged. The oil resists breakdown and may cling to clothing, tools, and pet fur for long periods of time, even a year or more.

Exposure to the oil on these secondary sources can also cause an allergic reaction. Not everyone is allergic to these plants, and sensitivity varies between people, but allergies may develop with increased contact. People suffering from a rash caused by these plants need not worry about spreading it to other parts of the body or to other individuals. After the rash appears, it is not contagious, and any observed spreading of the rash is the result of a delay in reaction from previous exposure or from re-exposure due to contact with clothing and equipment that has not been properly cleaned.

Although the rash may be visible in as little as a few hours, it may take up to 3 weeks for the entire rash to appear. In mild cases, hydrocortisone creams or other anti- itch creams can be applied to soothe irritation. Some products are marketed specifically for treatment of poison ivy and poison oak rashes and can be obtained over-the-counter at local pharmacies.

Calamine lotion and oral antihistamines also can provide some relief. Most cases will clear up in a matter of weeks without further medical attention.