While you are out on the trails you are going to see so many different plants. But not all plants are friendly. Some plants should have a little sign on them saying “don’t touch me!” However, they don’t and because of this we need to know which are the plants we should give a wide berth and only look at them from afar. I often think why make plants that if I touch them will make me remember them for hours or days to come. That’s not very nice of them.
Most Common Plants:
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac
These are the ones that most people know about and probably have had a run in while in the wild. These plants create an oil and when we touch them it irritates our skin, creates a rash, and becomes itchy. Fun fact almost everyone is allergic to these plants. If you are one of the lucky ones that isn’t, just keep that a secret.
Poison Ivy: has three leaflets on each leaf and grows as a bush or vine.
Poison Oak: has three leaflets on each leaf, with rounded tips, and grows like a shrub or vine.
Poison Sumac: leaves have clusters of seven to thirteen leaflets arranged in pairs and grows as a tree.
Stinging Nettle
These plants have small hairs on the leaves and stems that irritate the skin and produces the stinging sensation. When the hair that acts like needles touch you, they put acid into your skin which will cause small red stinging bumps. This acid is the same as ant bites.
Stinging Nettle: leaves are heart-shaped with serrated edges and tapered tips as a shrub.
Other Plants to Watch For:
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service there are six lookalike plants that you want to avoid touching. Contract may cause unpleasant, potentially deadly, reactions. Most of these plants are invasive and easily grow in ditches and disturbed soils across the country.
- Giant Hogweed
- Reaches six to eighteen feet tall. It can cause severe irritation to the skin and eyes, blistering rashes, permanent scaring and even blindness.
- Poison Hemlock
- Reaches three to eight feet tall. All parts of this plant are highly poisonous to people and animals. Ingestion of even small amounts may result in death.
- Spotted Water Hemlock
- Reaches three to six feet tall. All parts of this plant are highly toxic to people and animals. Ingestion many cause abdominal pain, convulsion, delirium, nausea, seizures and vomiting – often resulting in death.
- Cow Parsnip
- Reaches four to ten feet tall. Contact may cause skin irritation, blistering rashes, and skin discoloration.
- Wild Parsnip
- Reaches two to five feet tall. Contact may cause skin irritation, blistering rashes and skin discoloration.
- Queen Anne’s Lace
- Reaches one to two feet tall. With sensitive skin it may cause skin irritation.
To see pictures of these plants: https://www.fws.gov/story/dont-touch-these-plants
How To Avoid These Plants:
- Stay on the trail
- Wear long pants and long sleeves
- Educate yourself on “don’t touch me” plants
- Don’t touch it if you don’t know what it is
- Check trail updates and trip reports
- Remember the old saying “leaves of three, let it be”
- Keep an eye on your kids and pets
How To Treat the “Most Common” Plants:
- Wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible.
- Don’t scratch the area.
- Apply cortisone cream or ointment.
- Relief can come from any or all of the following:
- Calamine Lotion
- Cool Compression
- Aloe Vera
- Baking Soad/Water Paste
🍃 Have you had a run in with any of these plants?
Want to learn more about being out on the trail? That’s where I come in. Let me help you understand the ins and outs of getting out on the trail in nature. I want to take all the knowledge and experiences I have had and share them with you so you can hit the trail with more confidence. Ready for whatever comes around the next turn. I would be honored to be your Trail Coach. We can go anywhere from city parks to state parks to national parks to blm land to national forests and everywhere in between. If there is some amazing nature to be seen, we can do it together one adventure at a time.
Get my Trail Checklist now to make sure you are prepared to head outdoors. This list is a great starting point and has my top items for both hiking and trail running.
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Until the next trail…
Coach RJ
References:
Celley, C. (n.d.). Don’t touch these plants! . https://www.fws.gov/story/dont-touch-these-plants
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10655-poison-plants-poison-ivy–poison-oak–poison-sumac
Photo Credit:
Photo of Four Most Common Plants from Canva Pro
Photo by Pho Tomass: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sunlit-forest-trail-with-verdant-foliage-29999948/
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