Looks are Deceiving

This is the spring, new-growth version of Poison Oak, a plant that causes a very nasty allergic reaction in most people. It's a beautiful plant spring through fall and does well in all sorts of conditions so it takes over in some areas. It's green in summer and is one of the most colorful fall plants in our area. Generally, the native plants in the San Francisco Bay Area don't have a lot of fall color. The best advice, though, is "look but don't touch."