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Viburnum or Poison Ivy

Posted by stuckinthedirt 6b VA (Shenandoah Va (My Page) on
Wed, May 12, 10 at 19:42

Last spring I planted what I thought was an arrowroot viburnum (one of the free Arbor Day trees). Well this year I looked at what was growing, and it looks a whole lot more like poison ivy and any viburnum. What do you think?

Here is a link that might be useful: photo of shrub


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

Rhus aromatica or Fragrant Sumac, a well-behaved, desirable, native shrub.


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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

  • Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
    Thu, May 13, 10 at 0:42

The poisonous one that looks like this is poison oak. Poison ivy produces large, glossy leaflets.


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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

  • Posted by hortster 6A, southcentral KS (My Page) on
    Thu, May 13, 10 at 11:49

All are closely related (Rhus spp.) and sometimes difficult to tell apart. Another with similar appearance is skunk bush (R. trilobata), but it isn't the one in your picture. I would use caution because I thought of poison oak as did bboy.
hortster


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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

Well, I was just recently at one of their grow ops, and I'd be surprised if they ship poison oak, as they are pretty sharp in what they do.

Nonetheless, I'm with the Rhus trilobata, from the shape of the base of the terminal leaflet. Overall I can see the poison oak case but doesn't feel right overall. Certainly not a viburnum, that's for sure. But the Rhus is a good one, you'll like the fall color.

Dan


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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

  • Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
    Thu, May 13, 10 at 17:05

I wasn't saying that the plant shown was poison oak, that was not the point.


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RE: Viburnum or Poison Ivy

Wow! Thanks! I was certain that this was poison ivy, but now looking again at some poison ivy websites, and looking at fragrant sumac, it seems like you guys are right. I guess I will keep it. Does it need a male and female plant to have berries, or does one plant have all the "parts"?


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