Q: I have always assumed that only poison ivy has a hairy vine clinging to a tree trunk. A friend tells me this is not true. What’s the story?

A: Your friend is definitely correct – both poison ivy and climbing hydrangea, Decumaria barbara, have very hairy vines.

Wild plant expert Shannon Pable says a nice winter ID characteristic is Decumaria is opposite leaved and poison ivy has alternating leaves.

Climbing hydrangea

Poison ivy

Poison ivy