14

Most Dangerous

Plants in America

of the

Nearly all parts of the bush, its sap, and its seeds are toxic if eaten in large quantities.

1. Burning Bush  (Euonymus alatus)

The fast-spreading ground cover suppresses all other vegetation and forms a dense carpet that’s inhospitable to wildlife.

2. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Callery pear saplings can dominate the edges of forests and open fields where they nudge out native vegetation.

3. Callery Pear  (Pyrus calleryana)

Simply touching the highly toxic plant with an open wound can be fatal, as can mistakenly eating its berries.

4. Deadly Nightshade  (Atropa belladonna)

Many butterfly bushes have dust-like seeds that float easily on the wind, landing in fields and along roadsides where they can crowd out beneficial plants.

5. Butterfly Bush  (Buddleja davidii)

While the toxin is predominantly in the bulbs, all parts of daffodils are poisonous to people and pets.

6. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)

While ingestion of any part is dangerous, accidental poisoning also can occur when plant sap enters the bloodstream, such as when gardeners who’ve handled the plant then rub their eyes or eat after handling it.

7. Angel’s Trumpet  (Brugmansia spp.)

Grow trumpet vine on a strong trellis away from trees and shrubs that it could potentially strangle. You’ll want to grow it away from structures, too, because the vine also is highly flammable.

8. Trumpet Vine  (Campsis radicans)

Native to North America and commonly found across the Plains and western states, it poses a risk to livestock and grazing wildlife. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

9. Death Camas  (Zigadenus venenosus)

All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the seeds that develop inside pretty spined capsules and explode when mature.

10. Castor Bean Plant  (Ricinus communis)

Its roots are even more poisonous than the above-ground parts of the deadly plant.

11. Water Hemlock  (Cicuta douglasii or  C. maculata L. var. californica)

The compounds in the plant can slow the heart or cause an irregular beat and lead to life-threatening effects.

12. Foxglove  (Digitalis purpurea)

The trick to keeping the black walnut from harming other plants is to avoid planting anything other than inedible, shade-loving plants within the area under the tree’s canopy.

13. Black Walnut  (Juglans nigra)

Eating even a small amount of leaves or any other part of the plant can cause severe illness or death, beginning with nausea, vomiting, and abnormalities in heart function.

14. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

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