Clematisīean upper surfaces tend to be very slightly fuzzy. Poison ivy upper surface is never fuzzy and has a slightly waxy appearance. Note the difference in venation in bean and poison ivy. Beans have fewer veins from the main central vein. Jack-in-the-pulpitĬlematis leaf veins are more curved than poison ivy and the leaves are opposite along the main stem. The stem of the center leaf of Jack-in-the-pulpit is almost non-existent, whereas the center leaflet of poison ivy has a definite stem. The leaflet edges also have finer serrations than poison ivy. Indian strawberryīrambles (blackberries, raspberries) have prickles on the stems, which poison ivy never has. The edges of poison ivy can be somewhat jagged but are not serrated. Indian strawberry has serrated leaflet edges. However, notice the leaflets are arranged on the stem opposite from each other, not alternately like poison ivy. Thick, hairy poison ivy vine growing up a tree. Photo: Ohio State Weed Lab, The Ohio State University, What is NOT poison ivy Boxelder seedlingsĪbove are boxelder seedlings, which can look very much like poison ivy with compound leaves with three leaflets. Photo: Betty Marose Young leaves of Japanese honeysuckle in late winter to early spring (invasive) Poison ivy can be shiny (upper left and lower right corner) Poison ivy will turn yellow or red in the fall and can still cause a rash. Both poison ivy and Virginia creeper can be shiny when young. In early spring, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, and Japanese honeysuckle (invasive) can be confused. In the photo below, one can see an old hairy poison ivy vine as well as a younger vine without hairs. Young poison ivy leavesĪlong the main stem/vine, the sets of three leaflets are never directly opposite to each other they have an alternate arrangement. The veins of each leaflet are generally alternate along the main vein. In each set of leaflets, the middle leaflet has a longer stem than the two side leaflets. The stem on the side leaflets can be so small as to be almost invisible. The stems of the two side leaflets are always directly opposite of each other. Poison ivy has compound leaves each leaf is composed of three leaflets.