Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center

Is This Poison Ivy?

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Submitted by:  Kim Dyment
Date Submitted: 6/29/2003
Location: Scotland, Ontario

Question Asked: The first picture is of a strange shrub growing in the full sun. Most of the leaves look similar to oak leaves but the newest leaves on each stem do not yet. Is it poison oak? Also the last picture. Is this some kind of sumac or Manitoba Maple? Thank you very much. I live in Scotland, Ontario and some sources indicate no poison oak except in BC but others indicate rare but present elsewhere. Do you know which is right?

Answer: Hi Kim -

Except for the last picture of a different plant, the scrub plant you have looks like mulberry to me. The leaves have very interesting shapes but are simple and alternating meaning the leaf has no leaflets (unlike poison oak which has 3 leaflets per leaf). From what I understand, poison oak is generally only found in BC but poison ivy is a candidate for other provinces.

The second plant is a type of sumac. The picture is a bit blurry so positive id is tough. Perhaps that is smooth sumac? Smooth sumac has finely toothed leaflets which is what I believe I see.