GIANT poison oak / fall color.

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mdvaden Beaverton, OR Sep 23, 2006

Anybody ever planted poison oak as a native plant specimen for fall color?

I did, when in college on my mom's one acre landscape. We knew where it was, and no children were ever around. We didn't keep it there for more than a couple of years, though.

I made a page on poison oak the past month or two... http://www.mdvaden.com/poison_oak.shtml

When researching the plant further, references indicated that gardeners in a couple of countries - years ago - had collected poison oak for fall color.

In the Redwood forest today, I found a huge specimen. It had a 4" to 5" DBH trunk, and the lowest visible foliage was up around 150'. Maybe it's taller, but it vanished out of sight.

Has anybody ever found poison oak this big in their local forests or yards before?

This image only shows the trunk going onto and up the redwood trunk - no way to get the whole poison oak plant in one photo.

Thumbnail by mdvaden
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Xeramtheum Summerville, SC(Zone 8a) Sep 23, 2006

Good page! I am lucky enough to be one of the 7% immune to urushiol. Bleach will also neutralize urushiol as well. about 2 tbsp. to 1 cup of water for use on skin.

If you are going to be working around poison oak/ivy or removing it, if you spray a half and half mixture of water and bleach on the poison oak/ivy about a half hour before you start, it will lessen considerably your chance of getting a rash if you have contact. Remember to wipe off any tools you are using with straight bleach or ammonia that have come into contact. Use a cup of ammonia in you laundry along with detergent for clothing that has come in contact with the plants.

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mdvaden Beaverton, OR Sep 23, 2006

Some arborists were exchanging ideas about this on a tree forum, too. It came to mind that maybe, people who are immune, could be certified by a doctor.

That could have value with tree services and the forest service, to know in advance, who can work with the plant. It could reduce some medical expenses.

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Xeramtheum Summerville, SC(Zone 8a) Sep 23, 2006

I dont know if there is some sort of antigen marker for this .. the acid test is to rub a leaf on you .. but I'm not voluteering!

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