Where is poison oak

Your best line of defense is knowing what to look for and how to protect yourself. Poison ivy has three almond-shaped leaflets growing at the end of each stem. Mature plants have leaves that are somewhat shiny. Poison ivy can grow as a shrub or a vine, including climbing vines that grow up trees. The color and shape of the leaves can vary by location, but poison ivy will always have three leaflets. Poison ivy is common throughout most of the U.

Poison ivy typically grows in wooded areas, especially at the edges where there is some sun like trails and roads! Like poison ivy, poison oak has three leaflets per stem, but these look more like the leaves of an oak tree, with lobed edges and tiny hairs on top.

They can be green, yellow-green, reddish or pink depending on the time of year. Poison oak can grow as a vine or a shrub. Poison oak grows along the west coast and in the southeast, and is rarely found in the Midwest. The southeastern variety Atlantic poison oak looks very similar to poison ivy. These plants produce oval-shaped berries that are white to gray in color. While poison ivy, oak, and sumac do not grow in Hawaii, surprisingly, the skin of the mango tree produces the same rash-causing allergen, urushiol.

Just like poison ivy, oak, and sumac, you want to remove urushiol from your skin if you have been in contact with it. Check out our resource page, How does poison ivy work to learn more!

Search for:. Poison Ivy. Poison Oak. Poison Sumac. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Poisonous Plants: Geographic Distribution.

Minus Related Pages. Geographic Distribution One or more of the most common poisonous plant species are found throughout the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. Poison Ivy Western poison ivy external icon left ; Eastern poison ivy external icon right : Maps courtesy of U. The leaves may have a waxy appearance, a hairy underside, and seasonal change in color.

Poison sumac grows only in swampy areas. It grows as a small shrub or tree and may be anywhere from 5 to 20 feet tall. Common characteristics include red stems and approximately 7 to 9 smooth not lobed leaves that are arranged in pairs. The first exposure typically sensitizes the person to urushiol so that on subsequent encounters, a rash may develop, usually within 12 to 48 hours.

In some cases, however, because urushiol is so potent, a reaction can occur on the initial exposure. At least 50 percent of the population will react to the oil of these plants if exposed.

Symptoms include red, raised streaking where the oil has come in contact with the skin. Tender, fluid-filled blisters may develop, and may burst and ooze.

After the blisters burst, they crust over and the skin begins to heal. Throughout the entire course of the rash, the skin is typically severely itchy. The smoke from burning poison oak, ivy, or sumac also contains urushiol, so inhaling it can irritate your nasal passages and cause severe inflammation of the lungs. Once the rash appears, it can last as long as two to three weeks and will eventually resolve on its own without treatment.