Rhus radicans a root-climbing liana is not distributed randomly among potential host tree species in an old-growth mixed mesophytic forest on the southern Cumberland Plateau of north Alabama USA. Vines are more abundant than expected on Carya ovata and Quercus rubra but less abundant than expected on Juglans nigra Acer saccharum and Sassafras albidum. Seed germination and early seedling growth in the presence of bark extracts suggest allelochemical interactions may influence the observed host preferences.