The following question was sent to the P&PDL diagnosticians here at Purdue University:

Question: Can Poison Ivy ever grow so full, in it's bush form, that it appears to have five leaves, three at the top, and two lower on the stem? Thanks.

Answer: Poison ivy can take on many plant forms, including shrub (bush), vine, or ground cover. The distinguishing characteristic is the presence of three leaflets (a leaf subdivided into three divisions). It is a woody plant so would have a woody stem near the base of the plant that is the source of new growth each year.

You can view our publication HO-218W Poison Ivy (PDF 40K) which contains information on identification and control.

--Rosie Lerner

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