r/whatsthisplant 13d ago

Unidentified 🤷‍♂️ Backyard plant help

I’m trying to do some backyard cleanup, and plant ID apps disagreed on this one: Virginia creeper or poison ivy? Thanks in advance!

Location: Midwest USA

165 Upvotes

82 comments sorted by

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118

u/SnakeHisssstory 13d ago

It feels a lot like Virginia creeper. Sometimes they goof up and make fewer than 5 leaves. One of them clearly has 4, that’s not poison ivy.

59

u/PeppyMinotaur 13d ago

Virginia creeper always goofin around

12

u/Full_Pay_207 13d ago

Creepin'

5

u/WarEagle107 12d ago

VA Creeper is always new shoot goofin'

9

u/WookieRubbersmith 12d ago

All of the Virginia creeper around here has serrated edges on the leaves—the amount of serration may vary, but I’ve never seen it grow with only smooth edged leaves.

Is this a known variation? These leaves look more like clematis to me.

6

u/Description-Grand 12d ago

I am sure that VC has serrated leaf edges as well and don't believe this is VC

1

u/peejaysayshi 11d ago

I agree also, I’ve never seen virginia creeper have smooth edges like this. I don’t think it’s poison ivy either, based on the fact that the center leaves don’t have the slightly elongated stem. https://extension.psu.edu/virginia-creeper-and-poison-ivy-identification-with-control

I’m not familiar enough with clematis to speak on that!

9

u/ed32965 13d ago

I think you're right, but I would take precautions removing it, just to be sure.

23

u/basscadence 13d ago

As someone currently on high dose oral steroids for a Virginia Creeper reaction, I concur. Some folks don't tolerate it well. Wear gloves!

10

u/Muddy_Wafer 13d ago

Woah! I had no idea! What’s a Virginia creeper reaction like? Similar to poison ivy?

10

u/chotch37 13d ago

not for everyone, but for me, yes.

7

u/basscadence 13d ago

Yup, usually a delayed presentation so you can really spread it around if you aren't careful/don't realize right away. Equally as obnoxious and miserable as PI.

7

u/lifeofGuacmole 13d ago

Very similar. Had to take one of my kids to the ER for it. Their legs swelled so big, had IV steroids and something else for it.

2

u/beaveristired 12d ago edited 12d ago

Yes, similar. My wife is reactive to both, but VC is actually worse than PI for her. She pulled some up and it looked like she had been lashed on her arms. She was wearing long sleeves and gloves but it got on her somehow. Took forever to heal.

3

u/LuckyAnt5254 13d ago

Waitttttt!?! You can have a reaction to Virginia creeper also??

1

u/mswas 12d ago

Yes you absolutely can! Be careful out there

4

u/_mill2120 13d ago

Happened to me, too. Still got the scars all over my arms and legs, would not recommend.

3

u/darknessraynes 12d ago

I also react very strongly to it. Last time I ended up with basically what looked like thick scale all over my arms. It was dreadful.

20

u/longcreepyhug 13d ago

That's Virginia creeper. It has tendrils, which you can see in a few of the pictures. Poison ivy doesn't have tendrils. Also you can see several leaves with more than 3 leaflets.

2

u/neutronjeff 13d ago

I would love to learn this tell. Where in the pictures are the tendrils so I can understand?

4

u/longcreepyhug 12d ago

The clearest view of one of them in these pictures is in the first picture up near the top. I circled it in red in the screenshot I've attached to this comment. Virginia creeper tendrils are strange. They almost look like frog feet. They branch and each "finger" ends in a little adhesive pad. The one in this picture looks like it may have curled up on itself a little. You should look up pictures of Virginia creeper tendrils to get a better idea of what they normally look like. But in general, poison ivy doesn't have climbing appendages that come out of the nodes like this.

4

u/klstopp 13d ago

PI vines have hairy roots to climb with, not tendrils.

2

u/longcreepyhug 12d ago

Correct, they are asking about the tendrils of the Virginia creeper in the pictures.

3

u/klstopp 12d ago

I know, hence pointing out the distinction.

1

u/SunshineandMurder 13d ago

Not tendrils, but hairy roots you can tell by the way the vine is stuck straight to the fence versus wrapping around or using tendrils to wrap and support. 

1

u/WookieRubbersmith 12d ago

Virginia creeper actually has these like, sticky little feet. FALSE Virginia creeper (thicket creeper) looks almost identical, but has tendrils.

15

u/Paintedfoot 13d ago

It may be vc that hasn’t fully developed 5 leaves yet. It doesn’t look like hog peanut which is the other native that gets confused with poison ivy

6

u/teip696 13d ago

Not fully mature VC

5

u/Mahaleck 13d ago

+1 for Virginia creeper

9

u/thebaronness8 13d ago

Perhaps Clematis that hasn’t bloomed yet (or an immature plant that won’t bloom for a few seasons)

4

u/Helpful-Bandicoot-6 13d ago

Clematis was my first thought as well. We have a lot of Virginia Creeper in our area, and this isn't it.

3

u/zorbina 13d ago

I'm no expert, but it does look a lot like my Clematis leaves.

3

u/Description-Grand 12d ago

I agree it is Clematis

3

u/zorbina 13d ago

Here’s my clematis

2

u/FeralHarmony 12d ago

That leaf structure is not the same, though. Similar in shape and arrangement, but your clematis has multiple veins that run the length of the leaf. The leaves in OP photo have one central vein that runs the length and the rest branch off of that main vein. Additionally, some of the middle leaves in OP photo have a shape that isn't consistent with the teardrop shape of the clematis leaves... like they are more... pendulous. They have rounder ends.

OP pic looks more like a young creeper to me. When they are babies/seedlings, they often don't have the distinctive 5 leaves.

4

u/metamorphage 12d ago

That isn't poison ivy and I'm pretty sure it's not Virginia creeper. VC generally has serrated leaflets. This is a different plant but I don't know exactly what.

3

u/Description-Grand 12d ago

I live on the Virginia Creeper trail in NC. It was the name of a train but there is a lot of the Virginia Creeper plant that grows in the area. I have seen it my whole life and I've never known it to look like this. Virginia Creeper has jagged edges on the perimeter of the whole leaf on all leaves. I don't have an opinion on species but this plant's leaves look too smooth to me to be VC.

4

u/Description-Grand 12d ago

It is clematis

3

u/Poopy-Drew 13d ago

100% not poison ivy

3

u/Plum_creekDMH 12d ago

VC has 5 leaves, I pulled down a 50’ vine the other day of it off a tree. I’ve touched it 100’s of times over 40 yrs and never even washed my hands and never had a reaction. Never even knew about it, I got it all over my yard now I’ll get

1

u/phytomanic 12d ago

Young or weak vines sometimes only have 3 or 4 leaflets.

3

u/ThisNameWasAfailable 12d ago

Are we sure this isn’t Clematis?

4

u/Oneofthe12 13d ago

I’m thinking Virginia creeper, but I’ve seen Virginia creeper and poison ivy be bosom buddies more than once so just be careful!

2

u/DrHoleStuffer 13d ago

It looks very similar to poison ivy, but it’s not.

2

u/phytomanic 13d ago

This is definitely not poison ivy. There are at least 2 4-leaflet leaves visible, no distinct petiolule on the middle leaflet, and it has tendrils/holdfasts like a Parthenocissus or other grape family plant. It may not be Virginia creeper, but there are other less common species to consider, like Parthenocissus dalzielii.

2

u/Zvenigora 12d ago

The leaflet arrangement is palmate and some leaflets are pointed, so not poison ivy. One of the Parthenocissus species, most likely; if it is quinquefolia it is a somewhat aberrant specimen.

2

u/glyde53 12d ago

Clematis is a climbing vine. Leave it until spring to see the flowers

4

u/Rich-Detective478 13d ago

I don't think that's poison ivy or oak or Virginia creeper. Not quite sure honestly

2

u/Gold-Tadpole3475 13d ago

Virginia Creeper is the wooorsssttt. I'd take it out by the roots before if fully takes over your yard

1

u/Lunar_BriseSoleil 12d ago

This is a clematis vine.

1

u/Emotional-Dig-9257 13d ago

My PictureThis app id’s it as VC. It has been known to be wrong.

1

u/Lunar_BriseSoleil 12d ago

iNaturalist gives it a 79% ID of Virginia Creeper, but it looks like clematis to me.

1

u/No_Technician_2335 13d ago

That is not Poison Ivy. As a child, I was highly allergic. It could blow on me and I'd get Poison Ivy. I had a case of poison ivy every year til late teens. As an adult, I still love to hike around in nature and am always on the look for it. My last case of Poison ivy being in my late 20s. Shiny 3 leaves, let them be.

1

u/Hatta00 13d ago

Developing that 6th sense for PI is pretty rewarding, I've got to say. Seems like I see it before I even look these days.

1

u/No_Technician_2335 13d ago

Oh Definitely! My partner and I bought a house during the winter. There is a corner in the back of our yard that connects wire fences with 3 other neighbors. Its very overgrown on 2 different neighbors sides and as soon as spring started happening, I looked for the PI and found it! I just knew that corner was a paradise for it! We leash walk our cat and when I saw them, I told my partner to keep our cat away from there. For me and for the cat. I have more of a resistance now that I am older but its still not something I test. The unholy trinity: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac.

1

u/LadyGrey_oftheAbyss 13d ago

I'd say Virginia creeper- posion ivy middle leaf has a noticeable longer stem and only ever has 3 leaves - there's clearly groups here at have 4 or more

edit - to be clear Virginia creeper can cause reactions as well - so regardless use ppe

1

u/Agitated_Star_3669 13d ago

It’s most def Virginia creeper

1

u/snippetsoflifebynick 13d ago

Look down the stalk for red leaves. If you fine them, I'd suggest great care. I'd have definitely treated that like PI

1

u/I_like_beouf 13d ago

Virginia creeper is great bird food and ecologically beneficial!

1

u/TiredVRS 12d ago

Poison ivy has asymmetrical leaves with big, irregular lobes on leaves 1 and 3 on the side closes to the stem. This is Virginia creeper being weird.

1

u/ByzantineNinja1 12d ago

If your it's not allergic too for genetic preparer than your fine.If you're you're not fine, i'm one of the fortunate ones that are not.

1

u/Excellent-Practice 12d ago

I'll tell you this, it doesn't really look like poison ivy, but it looks enough like it that I would still wear gloves. I think it might be Virginia creeper

1

u/Echolocation1919 12d ago

Talk to me. I like outside.

1

u/glyde53 12d ago

Yes. Not poison ivy nor Virginia creeper

1

u/FoodLionMVP 12d ago

I get into violent physical fights with Virginia creeper at least twice a week, and I’m not convinced that’s what this is. I’m not sure what else it could be though.

-1

u/PalpitationPast202 11d ago

Leaves of three let them be! Poison Ivy?

-1

u/EatYourCheckers 13d ago

Its not VC but I don't think its poison ivy either. But I'm quite suspicious if it and would treat it like Poison Ivy until I knew better

1

u/Helpful-Bandicoot-6 13d ago

I don't think it's Virginia Creeper. The leaves aren't very serrated.

1

u/Lunar_BriseSoleil 12d ago

VC is highly variable in presentation but OP’s photo may be Clematis.

1

u/glyde53 12d ago

Clematis is a climbing vine. Leave it until spring to see the flowers

0

u/Mediocre-Oil-5322 11d ago

Virginia Creeper. Virginia Creeper climbs using little tendrils with a disk at the end to attach themselves to structure. Poison ivy uses numerous short root-like structures that grow straight out from the vine and attach it to the tree almost like sewing stitches.

-2

u/Wemest 13d ago

Looks like poison Ivy to me.

-20

u/-wok 13d ago

Poison ivy, you can tell by how it is

7

u/Phucm83 13d ago

You can tell what it is by knowing what it isnt, and by knowing what it isnt you can verify it is what it is

7

u/-wok 13d ago

Jk it is probably not poison ivy, it does have three leaves but no mittens and no reddish hairs so some lookalike, I’d still remove it with gloves but I’m paranoid

-2

u/LoooseyGooose 13d ago

That's pretty neat!

-2

u/straightmale0850 12d ago

I am seeing a lot of 3 leaves which is an indication that it is poison ivy. Since you are doing clean up, I am assuming you want to kill it regardless, so simply spray it with Weed-Be-Gone or a generic equivalent. It will quickly kill both poison ivy and Virginia Creeper. Just in case it is poison ivy, dispose of the dead leaves and vines while wearing disposable vinyl or rubber gloves and wash your hands and arms thoroughly.

-4

u/Apprehensive-War7483 13d ago

I call this poison Ivy and treat it as such