12 Poisonous Plants That Might Be Growing on Your Property

by NICHOLAS OETKEN

Plants can be a very beautiful addition to any home or property. But it’s also an unfortunate fact that sometimes the most beautiful plants can also be the most poisonous and dangerous.

That’s why you’ll want to be very aware of the plants that you have on your property and to also be very careful about ingesting or coming into contact with them.

Here are twelve common poisonous plants that might be growing on your property now that you don’t even know about:

Hemlock

Hemlock is characterized by its tall, hollow stems, fern-like leaves, and clusters of small white flowers.

Ingesting any part of the plant can lead to severe toxicity, causing symptoms such as nausea, convulsions, and ultimately respiratory failure.

It’s one of the most toxic plants in North America, so if you have any on your property, get it removed at all costs.

Hemlock is often mistaken for Yarrow, a beneficial plant with many medicinal uses. Yarrow is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and wound-healing properties.

To avoid confusion, I prefer growing my own Yarrow using high-quality, NON-GMO seeds packaged in the US. These seeds ensure you have the genuine Yarrow, not its toxic look-alike. They don’t restock often, so secure your pack from here.

Jimson Weed

Jimson Weed, also sometimes known as Datura, is a striking-looking plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers and spiky seed pods.

Its hallucinogenic properties have led to its historical use in rituals and ceremonies, but if you ingest it directly it’s highly toxic.

You can experience delirium, hallucinations, and potentially fatal complications such as seizures and coma if you take large enough doses of it. To stay on the safe side, just avoid taking it completely.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe comes with many holiday-themed romantic connotations.

While it’s certainly a gorgeous plant to look at, adorned with its characteristic white berries, all parts of the plant are highly poisonous to humans if ingested.

It can lead to stomach pain, diarrhea, and a lowered heart rate, and in severe cases, it can even cause death.

It’s a beautiful but dangerous addition to any holiday decor, so it’s important to handle it with care and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel is an elegant evergreen shrub known for its beautiful clusters of pink or white flowers and glossy, leathery leaves.

Despite its beautiful appearance, all parts of the plant contain toxins called grayanotoxanes.

If you consume these toxins, it can cause symptoms ranging from nausea and vomiting to more severe effects such as dizziness, convulsions, and cardiac issues. Avoid it!

Nightshade

Characterized by small, bell-shaped flowers and glossy black berries, Nightshade is infamous for its highly toxic properties.

Ingestion of any part of the plant can lead to symptoms such as dilated pupils, hallucinations, convulsions, and even death.

If you’ve read or watched The Hunger Games you should already be familiar with this.

Oleander

Oleander is a beautiful but deadly flowering shrub renowned for its showy clusters of fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, white, or yellow.

However, all parts of the plant contain very toxic compounds known as cardiac glycosides.

If you consume these, it can result in your heart rate slowing down and you starting to feel extremely tired and drowsy. All it takes is consuming just one leaf for you to feel these effects.

Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is widely known for being, well, poisonous (hence its name), but few people understand just how dangerous it really is.

This notorious plant contains an oily resin called urushiol, which triggers an allergic reaction in most people.

All it takes is for your skin to come into minimal contact with poison ivy to experience extreme swelling, intense itchiness, and painful rashes.

In some cases, the reaction can be severe enough to require medical attention, especially if the urushiol is inhaled from burning plants or comes into contact with sensitive areas like the eyes or mucous membranes.

The widespread growth of poison ivy in many regions makes it a common hazard, and it’s crucial to learn how to identify and avoid this plant to prevent accidental exposure.

Castor Beans

Castor Bean plants are renowned for their striking appearance, characterized by large, glossy leaves that shimmer in the sunlight and vibrant, spiky seed pods that add an intriguing texture to any garden landscape.

However, don’t be beguiled by their beauty alone.

Despite their aesthetic appeal, all parts of the plant, particularly the seeds nestled within those enticing pods, harbor ricin, a potent and lethal protein notorious for its toxicity.

Rosary Peas

Rosary peas, also known as Abrus Precatorius, are often dried and incorporated into various crafts.

However, when the seeds of rosary peas are inadvertently cracked or chewed, they release a dangerous and potent toxin known as abrin.

This toxin is so deadly that even a minuscule amount can induce severe symptoms and potentially lead to death if ingested.

Foxglove

Foxglove is a tall, beautiful plant known for its striking tubular flowers that come in shades of purple, pink, white, and yellow.

Despite its attractive appearance, Foxglove is highly toxic. All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause serious symptoms if ingested.

These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe heart problems such as irregular heartbeat and heart failure.

The ingestion of even small amounts can be potentially fatal, making it essential to remove Foxglove from your property if you have pets or small children.

Wisteria

Wisteria is a vine known for its clusters of lavender or white flowers. However, it conceals a danger within its foliage.

All parts of the wisteria plant contain toxic compounds that can cause severe gastrointestinal issues and nausea if ingested.

Despite its common presence in gardens, it’s important to handle wisteria with care to prevent accidental ingestion and potential harm

White baneberry

White Baneberry, also known as Doll’s Eyes, is an eye-catching plant featuring clusters of white berries with dark spots that resemble doll’s eyes.

Despite its whimsical appearance, all parts, especially the berries, contain toxic compounds called cardiogenic toxins.

Ingesting these berries can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and potentially fatal heart and respiratory issues. It’s important to be cautious around Doll’s Eyes and ensure that children and pets are kept away from this poisonous plant

There are many more poisonous plants that you’ll want to be on the lookout for, but the above ones we’ve covered are among the most common ones that many people mistake for being completely harmless. For a comprehensive resource on identifying both safe and hazardous wild plants, you should refer to The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods.

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with potential dangers, if you find any of these plants on your property, have them safely removed so there’s no chance that you can come into contact with them while you’re at home.