The leaves may have a glossy or dull surface or may even be somewhat hairy, especially on the lower surface. The edges of the leaves are either smooth, toothed, or somewhat lobed. The small greenish-white flowers appear in clusters in the axils of the leaves. The clusters of small, round, waxy, white, berry-like fruits appear in late summer and often persist all winter. Seeds germinate freely.
Seedlings soon produce creeping stems or rootstocks from the lowest nodes.
Because of its great variation in appearance from place to place, a person who is familiar with poison ivy in one part of the country may not recognize it in another. Stay away from any suspicious plant whether vine, bush, or creepers until you have checked the leaf arrangement. Under conditions that are poor for its growth, poison ivy may form small, spindly, trailing branches which are well hidden in the other vegetation. Be especially watchful for these. On Long Island it grows commonly in the sandy soils along the seashore.