Trending: eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — 2593 observations this week
iNaturalist Community
Invasive Species
Poison ivy is actively spreading into backyards, trail edges, and parks right now — knowing what it looks like at this stage of growth could save you a miserable, itchy week.
Thousands of people across the country have been spotting and photographing poison ivy this week and logging it to a nature-tracking app. The plant causes a painful, blistering rash when touched, and it's popping up in gardens, parks, and wooded edges as spring gets going. The flood of sightings is a useful heads-up that poison ivy season is in full swing.
Key Findings
2,593 research-grade observations of eastern poison ivy were recorded in a single week on iNaturalist
Eastern poison ivy ranked among the most observed plant species platform-wide this week, indicating a broad geographic surge in visibility
The timing aligns with spring leaf-out in the eastern United States, when the plant becomes newly recognizable and encounters with humans increase
chevron_right Technical Summary
Eastern poison ivy is surging in community-recorded sightings this week, with nearly 2,600 verified observations logged on iNaturalist. This spike likely reflects seasonal leaf-out making the plant newly visible and identifiable across North America.
Abstract Preview
eastern poison ivy is among the most observed plant species this week with 2593 research-grade observations.
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Toxicodendron radicans, commonly known as eastern poison ivy or poison ivy, is a species of allergenic flowering plant. It has numerous subtaxons and forms both vines and shrubs. Despite its common name, it is not a true ivy, but rather a member of the cashew and sumac family, Anacardiaceae. It i...