# Can I buy poison ivy plants/seeds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067 "2003-11-08T13:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/1 "2003-11-08T13:54:24Z")
I was thinking of using them as non-leathal anti-personel devices to prevent people from cutting across my property. Can I buy it? Will this cause any issues legally? How do I plant it with out getting it? And will this stuff take over the property? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/2 "2003-11-08T14:20:04Z")
Poison ivy won’t keep people from cutting across your property, because the kind of people who are clueless enough to cut across your property are the kind of people who wouldn’t recognize poison ivy in the first place, and then be able to process the information thus, “Oh. Poison ivy. I’d better go around.” A big thorny rose hedge would work better. > [@](#): > > Can I buy it? Not AFAIK. > [@](#): > > Will this cause any issues legally? Only if it gets so tall that it looks like “weeds”, and then the city will send you a nasty letter. If you keep it mowed you won’t have any problems. Be sure you don’t touch any part of your lawn mower after you’ve started using it to mow the poison ivy. And IANAL but AFAIK nobody can sue you for having poison ivy on your property which they walked through. > [@](#): > > How do I plant it with out getting it? The best way would be to go gather seeds from the berries–I have no idea when this would be, but I do know that they make berries. (This is why they’re found along fences–they’re bird-poop-planted.) Make sure you don’t touch the plant while you’re gathering the berries. I have no idea what it needs by way of germination, but you could just emulate Mother Nature and bury the ripe berries in the fall where you want the poison ivy to grow. Note–the berries are not human-edible. > [@](#): > > And will this stuff take over the property? Yup, sure will. Not only will it spread all over the ground, but it will also climb up any trees. Out in “the wild”, it gets to be as big around as your arm, hanging permanently on trees, like gnarly poisonous wooden cables. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/3 "2003-11-08T15:42:23Z")
Use heavy gloves, preferably rubber, bought for the purpose and discarded after harvesting the berries. You also might be able to transplant a couple of plants, using gloves and a small shovel. Note: be sure not to burn cut poison ivy anywhere where the smoke will contact humans before dissipating – the urushiol is **not** totally consumed in the fire, and will be suspended in the smoke, with unpleasant (and potentially fatal if breathed!) consequences when it comes in contact with human skin. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/4 "2003-11-08T15:56:46Z")
Given that a pet rubbing against it could trransmit the oil to a child who later cuddled the pet, I would recommend roses or barberries over poison ivy. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/5 "2003-11-08T16:09:41Z")
I think you might have trouble buying seeds as a result of the federal noxious weed act. > [@](#): > > The Secretary of Agriculture was given the authority to designate plants as noxious weeds by regulation, and the movement of all such weeds in interstate or foreign commerce was prohibited except under permit. The Secretary was also given authority to inspect, seize and destroy products, and to quarantine areas, if necessary to prevent the spread of such weeds. [Summary here.](http://www.doi.gov/news/archives/weed.html) ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/6 "2003-11-08T18:17:54Z")
- - - There’s a special family of shrubs used for this–to make “attractive” personnel fences. I read an article on them once but have no idea what they were called. The shrubs appear like normal bushes outwardly when trimmed but have very dense, tough branches and long (1"-2" long!) thorns all over their branches. The article noted that many US federal government buildings use them for security purposes. … Soooo… you might ask around on gardening forums, if anyone knows of such a plant, or alternately if anyone has a map or summary of all the plants on the White House grounds. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/7 "2003-11-08T18:54:19Z")
Also, I would imagine that it would be impossible for you to enjoy your own yard, then-I mean, it’s pretty easy to catch it. ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/8 "2003-11-08T19:04:11Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a special family of shrubs used for this–to make “attractive” personnel fences. Hawthorns (_Crataegus spp._) are commonly used in this way (some have been used this way since the middle ages). Be careful; they can get rather large so just remember not to use them near any walkways, and as stated, they have large (some to four inches long) thorns. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/9 "2003-11-08T19:09:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kanicbird \* > \*\*I was thinking of using them as non-leathal anti-personel devices to prevent people from cutting across my property. > > Can I buy it? Will this cause any issues legally? How do I plant it with out getting it? And will this stuff take over the property? \*\* Damn straight you can buy it…how much do you want? Just come to my house. All you can pick. Legally…if they are trespassing on your property, I don’t see how it can be an issue. Unless perhaps you make it known that it is your intention. You might find yourself in a civil suit. Cost of medical attention and/or pain and suffering…? It will take over you property but is not that hard to contain. Break off several pieces and dip the ends in some root hormone and plant them where you want. Water liberally and next year you’ll have plenty. You can get some cheap disposable gloves. OR whenever I am exposed I clean my hands with GO/JO or other waterless hand cleaner. It breaks down the oils and is water soluable. It works for me. BUT I would rather plant a non-toxic ivy that looks similar to poison ivy and put up a sign…BEWARE POISON IVY. That should scare most folks off. Good luck 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/10 "2003-11-08T19:11:57Z")
Hey, have you seen [this](http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?item_id=885&) beauty? ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/11 "2003-11-08T19:16:35Z")
That’s cool **dino** I think I’d like to get a couple of those…except for the price. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Garnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Garnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garnet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/12 "2003-11-08T19:29:38Z")
What, distributing the poison ivy oil through the plant isn’t good enough anymore? … oh, you mean you want to use that thing with WATER. Never mind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/13 "2003-11-08T20:04:42Z")
Rig up a lighter and fill it with gasoline or napalm. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/14 "2003-11-08T20:05:45Z")
Hmmm… Venison. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/15 "2003-11-08T21:12:08Z")
Yeah I reccomend going with the thorns or that spray thing \*\* dinoboy \*\* mentioned. Especially with gasoline/lighter combo \*\* Ilsa\_Lund \*\* thought of. Fire good. Some people (like me 😛 ) are not effected by poison ivy, and can roll around in it without ill effects. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/16 "2003-11-08T22:13:37Z")
Don’t know your location, **kanicbird** but it may be suitable for Poncirus(used to be Citrus) trifoliata. Tall,stout stems with the most wicked thorns, white flowers and small, bitter orange fruits. Maximum height is about 20 feet. Stay away from the poison ivy, there’s just too much that could and would go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![SunTzu2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@SunTzu2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunTzu2U)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/17 "2003-11-08T22:17:47Z")
Well first you dig a 6x6x6 hole and then take some sharpened bambo canes dipped in fecal matter…oh wait you don’t want to kill anyone now do you? never mind…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/18 "2003-11-08T22:31:12Z")
Another thing is that if pets, which are pretty much immune to urushiol bring it inside on their fur & rub against you…itch! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/19 "2003-11-08T22:54:17Z")
Many cities have ordinances that prohibit “dangerous” plants. Here in Minneapolis, the city is using them on purple loosestrife and similar non-native plants that are taking over & destroying native habitat. I think it’s pretty likely that the city would object to you _delibrately planting_ poison ivy. Thick or thorny shrubs might work better, as others have suggested. But they will take a few years to get established. Another option, that can be used immediately, is to install a water sprinkler & automatic timer. That will keep away most anyone (except little kids in summertime – they will enjoy running thru it). A friend of mine used this. She was across the street from a high school, and students (who were not allowed to smoke on school property) would cross the street and hang out smoking on her lawn, damaging the lawn & leaving cigarette butts & other litter. (And as an older lady, she did not feel comfortable confronting kids that looked to her “gang-like”.) So she installed a timer on her hose, set to go on at pre-school, lunch time, and after-school times. This worked fine, moved them elsewhere, with no confrontations involved. And her lawn grew nicely, too! ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067/20 "2003-11-09T02:56:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quiltguy154 \* > \*\*Don’t know your location, **kanicbird** but it may be suitable for Poncirus(used to be Citrus) trifoliata. Tall,stout stems with the most wicked thorns, white flowers and small, bitter orange fruits. Maximum height is about 20 feet. Stay away from the poison ivy, there’s just too much that could and would go wrong. \*\* I second that. Trifoliate orange has hellish thorns. It’s planted around the Jefferson’s (Thomas) graveyard. I doubt anybody bothers their eternal rest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-poison-ivy-plants-seeds/212067.md?page=2)