Poison Ivy vs. Poison Oak: How to Spot the Difference in Indiana

It's that time of year when folks will be venturing outdoors, and this piece of advice could help you a lot.

It never fails, when summertime arrives in Indiana and people are wandering outside, there's always one type of question asked. Is that poison ivy or poison oak? I'm in my mid-thirties, and even I still have a hard time identifying what they look like sometimes. I know for a fact that I am not alone. Identifying poisonous plants in general is something that's easier to remember. Growing up, I always heard the rhyme, "leaves of three, let it be." That being said, the rhyme doesn't really tell you what exactly you're looking at, other than it might be poisonous. Lots of plants have three leaves or leaflets. How do you pick out poison ivy, poison oak, and even poison sumac from the rest?

How to Identify Poison Ivy

When it comes to spotting poison ivy outdoors, you are going to want to look for three glossy leaflets...but don't get too close! These leaves will have smooth or toothed edges. They are reddish in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange, or red in the fall. Poison ivy can grow as a vine or small shrub along the ground and trees. It could also contain greenish white flowers and whitish-yellow berries. Here's a good image of poison ivy for reference.

How to Identify Poison Oak

Poison oak, much like poison ivy, also has three leaves. The difference between the two is that poison oak has fuzzy green leaves. The leaves on poison oak have deeply toothed, rounded edges. They may also have yellow and white berries. It grows as low shrubs here in Indiana. So remember, three fuzzy leaves with rounded edges means poison oak.

How to Identify Poison Sumac

Another poisonous plant found in Indiana that doesn't get talked about as much as poison ivy and poison oak is poison sumac. These plants have clusters of seven to thirteen smooth-edged leaves. The leaves are orange in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange, or red in the fall. It can grow as a tall shrub or small tree in places like bogs and swampland in Indiana.

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Rash Symptoms

As you know, coming into contact with any of these plants could lead to a pretty gnarly rash. The rash is caused by the body’s reaction to an oil in the plants called urushiol. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

The first time you touch one of the plants, you may not get a rash. This is because your body’s allergic response is not yet sensitive to it. The next time you touch one of the plants, your body may react in 24 to 72 hours. The rash can’t spread from one person to another. But plant oils on skin and clothes can pass from one person to another and cause a rash.

READ MORE: Poison Hemlock- 100x Worse Than Poison Ivy

Johns Hopkins Medicine goes on to identify symptoms of poison ivy, oak, and sumac rash:

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each person. The symptoms most often include a red, bumpy, itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters. The blisters break open, ooze fluid, and then crust over. The area of skin may also be swollen. Swelling can mean the allergic reaction is more severe.

 

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Rash Treatment

As you know, the worst part of coming into contact with these plants is the itching. The treatment for poison ivy, oak, and sumac helps reduce itching. It can be treated by the following ways:

• Calamine lotion
• Steroid cream
• Baths with baking soda or colloidal oatmeal
• Steroid medicine by mouth or shot

Your healthcare provider may also prescribe antihistamine medicine. In some cases, you may need to seek urgent treatment if you have a severe reaction and swelling.

Johns Hopkins Medicine also gives several ways you can prevent rashes from these plants that would be beneficial to you and your family. You can also learn more in the video below. The most important thing to remember is how to identify these plants so that you can avoid coming into contact with them.