Guinness World Records says world’s tallest poison ivy plant is growing in Paris, Ont.
It appears the old saying “leaves of three, let it be,” meant the opposite for a Paris, Ont. man, who landed in the history books thanks to one poisonous plant on his property.
According to Guinness World Records, the tallest poison ivy plant was discovered by Robert Fedrock and stretches an impressive 20.75 metres -- or 68 feet.
According to the Guinness World Records, the is the tallest poison ivy plant in the world wraps around this White Ash tree in Paris, Ont. (Courtesy/Robert Fedrock)
Guinness World Records notes the record was achieved on March 12, 2023, but Fedrock said he has known about the plant for some time.
“I actually found the plant a few years ago, I was in the woods making a trail, and I just happened upon it,” Fedrock said. “It was covered in quite a bit of dense brush, so I could only see a little bit of it initially."
Fedrock said he could see a large, hairy vine that seemed very unusual.
He said a little later on, he was thinking about what it could be and figured it was probably a Virginia creeper vine or poison ivy, and after seeing the leaves that stood around 10 feet off the ground, he was sure it was poison ivy.
According to the Government of Canada, the most common kind of poison ivy grows as a trailing vine with upright leafy stalks 10 to 80 cm, or 4 to 31.5 inches, high. The second kind is an aerial vine that may climb from 6 to 10 metres high on trees, posts or rough surfaces.
The Guinness World Records poison ivy plant seen on Robert Fedrock's property clings to a White Ash. (Courtesy/Robert Fedrock)
The plant on Fedrock’s property, winds around a White Ash tree, clinging to the stem of the tree.
“I’d been showing it to my friends and whatnot, and one of my friends say ‘hey, you should really submit this to Guinness,’ and I kind of thought about it for a bit and thought may as well,” Fedrock said.
He said when he looked up the category on Guinness World Records, he did not see this specific category, so he put the submission in.
“Part of their requirements was to have a botanist, or someone certified, to positively identify it,” Fedrock added.
This poison ivy plant wrapped around a White Ash tree in Paris, Ont. has been claimed as the world's tallest poison ivy plant by Guinness World Records. (Courtesy/Robert Fedrock)
Once confirmed with the botanist, the submission was sent off, and the plant was certified as the world’s tallest poison ivy.
Fedrock said it feels pretty cool to have a piece of history.
“It is interesting. I just didn’t think it would be interesting to this many people,” he added.
“I get a lot of people are fascinated by this, and the thing is really interesting, and then I get a few people that think it should be cut down, and that’s a very sad way of looking at the world,” Fedrock said.
He added that it is an important part of the ecosystem, and a specimen of this size deserves some appreciation, not hostility.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.