Rhus toxicodendron is commonly known as poison ivy in English.

'Toxic sumac tree' may be an English equivalent of 'Rhus toxicodendron'. The Greek word 'Rhus' refers to the 'Sumac' members of the Anacardioidea subfamily. The Greek word 'toxicodendron' means 'toxic tree'.

Poison oak can refer to one of two species of the genus Toxicodendron that are native to North America. Toxicodendron diversilobum, or Rhus diversiloba, which is the Western Poison oak, or Toxicodendron pubescens, or Rhus pubescens, which is the Atlantic Poison oak.

'Rhus' is the genus and 'toxicodendron' the species in the scientific name 'Rhus toxicodendron'. The genus name refers to the Sumac members of the Anacardioideae subfamily. The specific epithet 'toxicodendron' is an alert to the plant's urushiol oil. The oil may cause severe allergic reactions in humans. Wildlife won't react to the oil, but they may be carriers of the reaction when their body parts make contact with the oil and then are touched by humans.

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