I've got this growing onto my front sidewalk, and I'm wondering if it's poison oak. I'd rather not try the "pull-it-and-you'll-find-out-a-couple-hours-later" method of identification!



Itching just thinking about it,
Angie

By Mike McCorkhill on Thursday, July 27, 2000 - 05:26 pm:

Angie. It sure looks like poison IVY to me. Poison oak grows up in the northwest where I come from. Not aware that oak grows down here in TX.

You might try spraying with 10% vinegar solution in hot sun. Mechanical removal and keep after it if it re-appears is best. Place a plastic garbage bag over the plant and grab the outside of the bag at the base of the plant to pull it out. Make sure you are wearing gloves and long sleaves to avoid skin contact while doing so.

If you are really susceptible to the rash, use Tech-Nu as a pre and post wash on your arms. You can find it at Eckard's Drug store.

It looks like it is growing in full sun which is a surprise. It normally is at least a part shade dweller.

By Angie on Thursday, July 27, 2000 - 10:39 pm:

Mike, It's actually mostly shady there. What you can't see in the pic are the several oak trees behind the liriope, and more on the other side of the sidewalk. So I guess it's even the right environment for poison ivy. Eeek!

Thanks for the information about Tech-Nu, and the garbage bag trick. I've only had a poison ivy rash once that I can remember, but it was fairly severe and I DON'T want to repeat that again!

By Maggie Ross on Tuesday, August 22, 2000 - 09:44 am:

I had been digging the same plant out of my front bed for years, when the mailman said it was poison oak. Must admit I didn't believe him since it had never caused a rash in all that time. Then suddenly one year, my bode must have reached its level of intolerance and the mailman was proved right!! Really bad stuff. Since then, I have been digging out the mother root yearly - well armored with full clothing that goes straight into the washer afterwards. But if I miss a spring attack, it develops shoots from underground runners across the bed, requiring further assault. Mine also grows in shade.

By angie on Tuesday, August 22, 2000 - 10:15 pm:

I'm glad I remembered the "leaves of three, let it be" saying (. . . or was it "leaves of three, roll on me"?) before I started digging! I had a really bad poison ivy reaction a few years ago and really don't want to repeat it.

Maggie, you might try Mike's garbage bag trick for removing it. I made it through OK without even wearing long sleeves: just gloves. But it sounds like now that it's been there, I can look forward to more in the coming years. :-(

By Susan Horn on Sunday, June 02, 2002 - 08:50 am:

I have had poison oak/ivy about annually. I have found that using a calendula cream has solved the rash/itch and actually cleared up the irritation very quickly. A friend used the same cream and her legs were covered with the rash and it was gone in 3 days with the itching disappeared immediately.

By Eric Lane on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 07:34 pm:

The plant pictured is poison oak; Rhus diversiloba. Poison ivy has a smooth leaf margin while the poison oak leak margin is serrated or saw-toothed. A good source of info is the website for Life-Assist, distributor of Tecnu. They have a map that show poison oak having a range in Texas that covers most of the northeast 1/4 of the state. Here's the website: www.life-assist.com/plantguide.html ,...., hope this helps.

By Kathy Viands on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 03:23 am:

I have oak trees all over my yard and there is poison oak vines about an inch thick running all around the trees. Is there any way to actually get rid of this stuff? Every time I do some clearing out, I end up getting it all over me...
Not fun...

By Anonymous on Tuesday, June 01, 2004 - 12:11 pm:

That IS Poison Ivy. No doubt about it.
I have it all over my place.