Possible relationship between wild grape vines and poison ivy.

I work in the tree industry. Fairly new at it, but I've noticed that I can easily point out poison ivy after seeing so much of it (and getting completely covered in it). What I have noticed, however, is that when I go to a property with wild grape vines growing in the trees, I hardly see any poison ivy. In fact, I can't remember a location that had grape vine and poison ivy growing in large amounts. I asked my co-workers if they recall grape vines and poison ivy growing together, they cannot recall.

I think the question is significant. Is it possible that grape vines and poison ivy share a common nutrient that they compete over?

Has anyone else noticed this?

In Western Kentucky we have both in abundance. Poison ivy is the more prolific. It seems to only need some degree of shade to grow, even the shade of a large grass. They are both large vines, so nutrient needs could be similar. I think poison ivy has a sensitivity to boron, not sure about wild grapes.

I have seen this pattern as well and am curious why that is. We have tons of wild grape vines on our land and almost no poison ivy. The grapes are very successful and doing a great job out competing the invasive honeysuckle as well by stealing all its light. I know that poison ivy is greatly benefited by increased C02 levels. And I think by human disturbance. I wonder if grapes are able to take up enough extra C02 to at least remove that advantage for the the poison ivy? And then due to their massive size and ridiculous growth rate are simply able to beat the poison ivy to other resources? The grapes certainly seem to move massive amounts of water. Maybe that's a piece of the puzzle?

On my property they grow together (along with poison sumac) and even wrap around each other as they grow.
Personally, I'm not a fan of either because they're both so vigorous that I've seen them choke out and kill 100-year old pecan trees. I wish they would compete with one other; and have the grapevine win since, at least, the pigs, poultry, and rabbits like to eat grape vines/leaves.

With all that said, though, I do think you could be on to something. I mean, we know environment is a big variable, with plants & animals constantly adapting to the environment & becoming localized strains of a species. So it's totally possible that something in my environment makes it beneficial for the 2 species to grow together, while something in your's has resulted in them being competitors.
Kudos to you for the good observations!

Just to clarify, are you talking about actual grapes (Vitis spp) or porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa) which many people refer to as wild grape?

Nathaniel Swasey wrote:I work in the tree industry. Fairly new at it, but I've noticed that I can easily point out poison ivy after seeing so much of it (and getting completely covered in it). What I have noticed, however, is that when I go to a property with wild grape vines growing in the trees, I hardly see any poison ivy. In fact, I can't remember a location that had grape vine and poison ivy growing in large amounts. I asked my co-workers if they recall grape vines and poison ivy growing together, they cannot recall.

I think the question is significant. Is it possible that grape vines and poison ivy share a common nutrient that they compete over?

Has anyone else noticed this?

Yes you are right. Worked in woods firewood, logging, hunting ,and hiking.

Rebecca Norman wrote:Just to clarify, are you talking about actual grapes (Vitis spp) or porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa) which many people refer to as wild grape?

I googled and found that the pictures of "vitis spp" looked more like what I've been noticing.

While we certainly have poison ivy in my area, my property is covered with Virginia Creeper, a vine often confused with Poison Ivy.  I have seen no relationship between grapes , wild or otherwise, with Poison Ivy, but it is a topic worth exploring.

That would make sense.  Thinking about the layers of the food forest, they would likely fill the same niche.  When removing an invasive plant, it will grow back unless that niche is filled with something else with the same requirements.  You may be on to something - maybe I should be removing poison ivy and planting grapes.