Poison-ivy is native and widespread throughout the United States and parts of Canada. It thrives under varied conditions, including dry, sandy soil, disturbed sites, woodlands, and wetlands. Virginia-creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is similar but has 5 leaflets per leaf and climbs by tendrils topped with adhesive disks. There are several species of wild grapes which invade landscapes as climbing, woody vines. The leaves are alternate, simple, rounded, often three-lobed and have toothed margins.
Wild grapes climb by means of forked tendrils that are opposite the leaves.
The stems are brown with bark that may shred-off in strips. Wild grape is spread by seeds which may be dispersed by birds. The vines can form a canopy over other plants and are capable of blocking enough light to kill or disfigure them. Thickets of wild grape may grow over low shrubs and along the ground. When cut back to stumps, the wild grape will re-sprout.