Identification of Poison Oak and Poison Sumac

Poison oak and poison sumac are plants that contain a poisonous oily sap, urushiol. When the sap from the plant comes in contact with the skin it causes skin irritation that can blister and ooze. Urushiol can get on the skin directly, from touching the plant, or indirectly, from contact with contaminated objects, like clothes or animals.

Poison oak

• Poison oak can be identified by its leaves. The leaves of poison oak plants typically grow three to a stalk. The leaf is between one and four inches long and can be glossy or hairy. The leaves have rounded tips with toothed edges. They change from green to red in the fall.

Poison oak locations

• Poison oak grows in the western, southern and southeastern parts of the U.S. Poison oak can grow as a shrub or as a vine wrapping around other trees.

Poison sumac

• Poison sumac is a shrub with a red- or gray-colored stalk. Leaves of poison sumac are smooth and are between five and 15 inches long. Plants usually have between seven and 13 leaflets per stem. The leaves change to an orange-scarlet color in the fall.

Poison sumac locations

• Poison sumac is usually found in wet areas like stream banks, marshes or shady forests. Poison sumac is commonly found in the southeastern and midwestern parts of the U.S.

Fruits and flowers

• Poison oak flowers bud in the spring and bloom in summer. Both are greenish-white in color. The flowers of poison sumac are yellow-green. They bud in the spring. Fruits come in the summer and are gray or white.