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
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.