Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
33
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron_radicans
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Genus
Toxicodendron
Poison Ivy belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, order Sapindales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Poison Ivy faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its native range. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that this species depends on, while intensive herbicide applications and deliberate eradication efforts continue to eliminate local populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, riparian corridors, and disturbed areas with partial shade to full sun exposure. Also occurs in coastal dunes, old fields, and along fence rows where it can climb trees or spread as ground cover.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Poison Ivy faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its native range. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that this species depends on, while intensive herbicide applications and deliberate eradication efforts continue to eliminate local populations.
Agricultural conversion and land clearing
Climate change impacts on suitable habitat
Habitat loss from urban development
Herbicide applications and chemical control
Deliberate removal and eradication programs
Found in 33 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/poison-ivy