Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, a botanist from Seattle, was once a very intelligent scientist who knew just about everything about plants. That is, until a man named Jason Woodrue (Floronic Man) conducted some experiments upon her. The experiments placed toxins in her blood stream that make her touch deadly and allow her to be immune to all poisons, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Thus, she became Poison Ivy.
Poison Ivy is a very attractive red-headed woman who is known to be able to seduce men and women alike with useful plant toxins. She specialized in hybrids and can create the most potently powerful toxins in Gotham.
She has been known to carry a cross-bow and a vine whip which she also has used as a lasso. At times, the vine has had thorns on it. She also occasionally uses hand thrown and blowpipe launched poisoned darts.
She also has been friends with Harley Quinn, the current girlfriend of The Joker.
In Batman: The Animated Series and spin-offs, Poison Ivy was played by Diane Pershing. Uma Thurman played Poison Ivy in the film Batman and Robin.