How to Identify Poison Gardenia

Poison gardenia, scientific name Toxicodendron vernix , is a plant native to the eastern United States and Canada. Most people have a painful allergic reaction to contact with any part of poison sumac, resulting in patches of red, itchy, or blistering rash. Learn how to identify poison ivy based on its appearance and habitat to avoid this situation.

Table of Contents

Identify poisonous gardenia

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Watch out for trees or shrubs. Poison gardenia usually grows as a shrub or tree about 1.5-6 meters high, sometimes taller. The branches may or may not have leaves growing along them, but either way, the foliage of poison sumac is relatively sparse rather than densely developed. ^{[1] X EDIS Trusted Source Go to Source}

Tip: Large poison sumacs, like some other gardenia species, often grow long, small branches that sag or swoop down to the ground. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Look for plants with pointed leaves pointing upwards. Before growing to full size as a tree or shrub, poison ivy can grow fairly upright with small branches and red stalks growing along the entire length of the trunk. In this case, the leaves and twigs are often markedly pointed straight up, especially near the top of the tree. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Find rows of compound leaves on each petiole. Poisonous gardenia has a feathery leaf texture, meaning that each stalk has two rows of leaves that grow parallel to the length of the petiole. Each stalk usually has 6 to 12 leaves, plus one more leaf on top of the stalk. ^{[4] X Trusted Source EDIS Go to source} Young petioles are usually red or reddish brown, but this color can fade to brown or gray as the plant matures.

Technically, the feathery leaves are called leaflets , but these leaves look like normal leaves, about 5-10 cm long.

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Identify the leaf shape of poison ivy. The leaves of this plant are oval or oblong, the blades are tapered or pointed at the ends, the leaf surfaces may be smooth or wavy, but not as serrated as some non-poisonous gardenias. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Learn about other leaf characteristics. The poison ivy is a deciduous tree, so the color of the leaves changes throughout the year. New leaves that grow in spring may be pale orange, turn pale green during spring and summer, turn red in fall, and then fall off entirely. ^{[6] X Trusted Source EDIS Go to Source The} underside of poison ivy can be smooth or hairy at any time of year, making it difficult to identify this way.

Warning: Fallen leaves can still be poisonous to the touch. Never burn leaves or collect firewood near poison sumac, as inhaling the smoke from poison sumac can be very dangerous, even fatal. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

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Identification of flowers of poison ivy. During spring and summer, poison ivy may produce pale green or yellow flowers. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to the source} These small flowers grow in clusters along their own green stalks, separate from the red petioles. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Identify poisonous gardenia fruit. In the summer or fall, poison ivy may produce small yellow or green fruits in place of flowers. During the fall and winter, these pods develop into clusters of white or gray berries, drooping on stalks up to about 30 cm long. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If the red fruit and the rest of the plant match the description above, it is most likely a non-poisonous gardenia in the gardenia family. ^{[11] X Research Source}
The fruit can be eaten by animals or fall naturally in winter. Do not assume that the tree always bears fruit.

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Look for white berries or stalks that have fallen over winter. Poison gardenia is still poisonous when it has lost all its leaves, and then it will be much harder to recognize. If you’re lucky, you’ll find clusters of white or pale yellow berries that can be seen as warning signs. However, during the first few weeks of spring, you can see thin, bare petioles from the branches, similar to the shape of light brown vine stalks.

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Stay away from pieces of gray bark found in poison sumac habitats. Identifying poison ivy bark can be difficult once the foliage and fruit have fallen off. See the hawthorn habitats section below for possible areas of poison sumac and avoid any trees with gray and rough bark.

Identify the habitat of poison ivy

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Know areas where poison ivy may be present. Unlike its cousins like poison ivy and poison oak, poison sumac is limited to a relatively small area of the earth. In Vietnam, poison ivy is often found in Phu Tho province and Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen provinces. In the US, if you’re outside of the following areas, your chances of encountering poison sumac are virtually zero. yes: ^{[12] X Research Source}

Ontario, Quebec, and the eastern provinces of Canada
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and all states east of these states, including all of New England
Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and all states east of these states, including the entire South
Texas, and all states east of it along the southern border of the United States, including Florida

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Beware of poison ivy in wetlands and wet areas. Poison gardenia usually grows well in wet soil, even stagnant water. Poison gardenia is less likely to grow in dry areas year-round.

Tip: In the dry season, watch out for shallow river beds or dry muddy areas, which show that these places often have water.

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You don’t have to worry about poison sumac if you’re at high altitudes. Poison gardenia is difficult to grow at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. ^{[13] X Research Source} If you are above 1,500 meters, your chances of encountering poison ivy are almost zero.

Poison ivy and poison oak relatives are also often concentrated at low altitudes, so exposure concerns with these plants are also reduced if you are at high altitudes.

Treatment after exposure to poison ivy

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Consider using an alcohol wipe immediately after contact with poison ivy. Rash or blisters can appear as late as 48 hours after exposure, so don’t wait until then. If you know you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, pour rubbing alcohol on the exposed skin as soon as possible. However, uruship poison is not completely soluble in alcohol, so you may need to rub a tissue or other solid material on the alcohol-soaked skin to reduce the amount of the poison. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Warning: Alcohol can make you more exposed because it removes the oil layer on the skin. You should avoid places where poisonous plants grow for 24 hours after applying alcohol, if possible.
Wear disposable gloves while handling if your hands are not in contact with the plant.

Tip: A better alternative is to use a good surfactant to bind the oils before they penetrate the dermis. Use Fels Naptha (a traditional yellow soap available at home stores) or Spic n Span cleaning solution to thoroughly wash exposed skin, rubbing and rinsing thoroughly. Repeat. Do not touch clothes that come into contact with poison ivy, as the oil remains on the surface of the clothing and will stick to the skin.

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Wash hands with cold water. Whether you apply alcohol or not, you need to wash the exposed skin with plenty of cold water. Do not use warm water, as warm water will open the skin pores and expose you to more exposure. You can also use soap, laundry detergent, or specialized products like Tecnu, but these products need to be washed regularly so they don’t dry out the skin with toxins that soak into it. ^{[15] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

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Treat the rash with an antihistamine or lotion. If you have a rash or blisters, you can take an antihistamine to relieve the itching. You can also apply calamine or hydrocortisone cream, or take an oatmeal bath for the same purpose.

If you have large blisters and oozes, you may need to see your doctor for a stronger prescription medication.
The discharge from the blister is not toxic, so it does not spread the rash.

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Seek medical attention in severe cases. If you suspect smoke from poison sumac, you should seek immediate medical attention, even if symptoms have not yet appeared. Other serious conditions that may require a doctor’s care include: a rash on the face or genitals, an area of the rash that does not shrink in any area of the skin within a week, puffy or difficult eyes breath. ^{[16] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

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Wash clothes and wash items that come in contact with poison ivy. If you leave poison ivy on clothing and items, they can spread the rash for months or years after initial exposure. Wear disposable gloves and wash items that come in contact with poison ivy with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or diluted bleach. Pack clothes in a disposable bag on the go, then wash with soap and hot water.

Remove poison gardenia

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Wait until the plant blooms. The best time of year to get rid of poison ivy is from May to June, or when the plant is in bloom. ^{[17] X Research Sources} You should wait until this point to start removing poison ivy.

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Wear protective clothing. Before you start, you need to make sure to cover all the skin on your body. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and closed-toe shoes, and gloves. This step will help reduce the risk of exposure.

Tip: Do not wear rubber or latex gloves, as these cannot protect you from gardenia poison. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Use herbicides absorbed through the leaves. Herbicides like Roundup are a good choice. Cut the tree or bush to about 30cm above the ground, then spray the herbicide right away. Make sure to spray all parts of the plant, including the roots, branches, and leaves. You may have to repeat this process several times. Continue spraying until there are no signs of plant growth.

Remember that treating poison ivy with an herbicide can kill other plants in the area. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Discard dead plant parts. Once the poison ivy is dead, you need to collect all parts of the plant, including the fallen leaves, into a trash bag and put the bag in the trash.

Do not burn any part of the plant, as the smoke from poison ivy can irritate the lungs and cause a rash on contact with the skin. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Advice

The best way to avoid a rash from contact with poison ivy is to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when going outside.
Poison uruship is an allergen found in poison ivy, poison ivy, and poison oak, although it is still most concentrated in poison sumac. People can develop an allergic reaction to uruship slowly, so don’t assume you’re safe if you don’t get a rash right away.

Warning

Never burn plant parts taken from an area where poison ivy lives. Inhaling the oil from poison ivy can cause serious damage to the respiratory system, even death.

Steps