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Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

Poison ivy is occasionally grown in Australian gardens and has rarely been recorded growing spontaneously in the wild. Its sap causes severe dermatitis in people, and it has potential to spread into the wild by seed.

Key facts

Type: Weed, vine and creeper.

Native to: North America, including southern Canada, the United States, British Columbia, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Established in: .

Other names: Poison Oak, Climbing Poison Ivy.

Identification

  • It is a winter-deciduous woody vine that can climb to 15 metres, or a shrub to 1.2 metres tall.
  • Leaves grow alternately along the stem and have three leaflets, rarely five.
  • The egg-shaped leaflets may have coarse or no teeth along their margins, and turn yellow, orange-red or crimson before falling in autumn.
  • Young shoots and leaf stalks are densely hairy, and some climbing stems develop aerial roots.
  • Small yellowish-green flowers grow in clusters; the roundish fruits are creamy white to brown.

Where it grows

In Australia, poison ivy is found in gardens, particularly in cool temperate to sub-humid regions, and spontaneous wild occurrence is rare.

Why it matters

  • Sap causes severe dermatitis in humans and is present throughout the plant, especially in the leaves and stem bark.
  • Sap is released when the plant is bruised or broken and can also cause exposure through clothing, tools or animals.
  • In dry conditions, the sap can remain active for more than a year, though washing can remove it.
  • Most animals, including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs and birds, are reported to be immune.

How it spreads

  • Spread is principally by seed, which is readily eaten by birds and other animals.
  • Plants are either male or female, so both sexes are needed for seed production.
  • Established plants and colonies can expand vegetatively by producing suckers.

Control options

  • Wear protective clothing when handling the plant; removal is preferably done in winter after the leaves have fallen to minimise toxicity.
  • Grubbing by digging out the plant or chopping its stem below ground is preferred for small patches.
  • Mechanical grubbing can be used for large infestations.
  • Do not burn the plant or its parts; where non-chemical control is impractical, consult APVMA information on registered herbicides and avoid damage to other vegetation.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Sap can be transferred by clothing and tools, so wash items that have contacted the plant; sap can remain active for more than a year in dry conditions.
  • Do not touch the plant with bare skin.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Not declared. Not a declared weed in Tasmania. Other laws may still apply.
  • Northern Territory: Not declared. Not on the NT A to Z weed list, and Weeds Australia does not list it as declared in the NT. Check the NT declared weeds list before moving or planting it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

Sources