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20 Deadliest Plants on the Planet
Not all plants are beneficial to us.
Plants provide mankind fresh air, foods, and medicines. Plants also beautify our surrounding with their lovely and colorful flowers. These are just some of the many benefits that plants can give us.
Although many plants are beneficial to human beings there are also certain varieties that have been proven to be harmful and fatal to humans. Here’s a list of the deadliest plants in the world. (Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)
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Oleander (Nerium Oleander)
All parts of this attractive bush are toxic especially the leaves and woody stems. Most poisonings have involved ingestions of the leaves. They cause severe digestive upset, heart trouble, and contact dermatitis. It is the deadliest plant in the world. In 2002, there were 847 known human poisonings in the United States related to Oleander and there are innumerable reported suicidal cases of consuming mashed oleander seeds in southern India.
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Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia)
Biting into the leaf causes immediate intense, painful burning in the mouth. This houseplant is one of the most frequently involved in injury to young children. All parts are poisonous, causing intense burning, irritation, and immobility of the tongue, mouth, and throat. Swelling can be severe enough to block breathing leading to death. The Dieffenbachia is considered one of the deadliest plants on earth.
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Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna)
All parts of this plant contain toxic. The young plants and seeds are especially poisonous, causing nausea, muscle twitches, paralysis; often fatal. Deadly nightshade or belladonna is one of the most toxic plants found in the Western Hemisphere. Children have been poisoned by eating as few as three berries. Ingestion of a leaf of the Belladonna can be fatal to an adult. The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part.
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Jimson Weed (Datura Stramonium)
This weed is the cause of the first recorded plant poisoning in the United States, in the Jamestown settlement. All parts of Jimson weed which is also known for a variety of names such as datura, thorn apple, stinkweed, and Jamestown weed are poisonous, causing abnormal thirst, vision distortions, delirium, incoherence, coma and often fatal.
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Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia)
All parts of the often fatal plant named Angel’s trumpet or Brugmansia contain the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and atropine.
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Monkshood (Aconitum variegatum)
All parts of the plant are highly poisonous. Ancient warriors used it to poison their enemies’ water supplies. Used in the past for killing wolves. It causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, then the intestine, followed by vomiting, death by asphyxiation.
Aconitum (Aconitum Napellus)
The poison is concentrated in the unripe seed pods and roots, but all parts are poisonous. It causes digestive upset, nervous excitement. The juice in plant parts is often fatal. Canadian film actor Andre Noble died of aconitine poisoning in 2004, after accidentally ingesting it. Several species of Aconitum have been used as arrow poisons. The Minaro in Ladakh use A. napellus on their arrows to hunt ibex, while the Ainus in Japan used a species of Aconitum to hunt bear. The Chinese also used Aconitum poisons both for hunting, and for warfare.
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Yew (Taxus Baccata)
The seeds are the most poisonous although all parts of the plant, except for the fleshy red bit of the fruit, contain taxane alkaloids. The seeds being especially poisonous are quickly fatal when ingested.
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White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
All parts are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting. When consumed by cattle the meat and milk become contaminated. When milk or meat from cattle feeding on White Snakeroot is consumed by humans, the poison is passed onto humans and can result in tremetol poisoning called milk sickness (notably the cause of death of Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln). It is also poisonous to horses, goats, and sheep. Signs of poisoning in animals include depression and lethargy; hind feet placed close together (horses, goats, cattle) or held far apart (sheep), nasal discharge, excessive salivation, arched body posture, and rapid or difficult breathing.
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Water Hemlock (Cicuta)
The most poisonous part of this plant is the root. The plant is occasionally mistaken for parsnips, due to its clusters of white tuberous roots; this is an often fatal error, as the Cicuta is extremely poisonous. It is considered to be North America’s most toxic plant. Cicuta is fatal when swallowed, causing violent and painful convulsions. Though a number of people have died from water hemlock poisoning over the centuries, livestock have long been the worst affected (hence the name “cowbane”), causing death in as little as 15 minutes.
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Moonseed (Manispermum)
The fruits and seeds of moonseed are poisonous, causing nausea and vomiting and are often fatal.
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Privet (Ligustrum sp.)
The leaves and berries of privet are poisonous which causes digestive disturbances, nervous symptoms and can be fatal. Privet is one of several plants which are poisonous to horses. In the some parts of the world where they are not native, some privet species have become invasive weeds, spreading into wilderness areas and displacing native species. This is particularly a problem in North America, where no species of the genus occurs naturally. Privet is a huge problem in New Zealand. It is banned from sale or cultivation in New Zealand due to the effects of its pollen on asthma sufferers. Privet pollen is known to cause asthma and eczema in sufferers.
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Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
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71 Comments
Very informative. Thank you.
…Hi nobert, your article is very
educational, I was not aware that
jasmine was poisonous. As well all
the other interesting but possibly
fatal plants. Thank you. Take care.
Good research bro. Informative.
Good informative article. I have some of these plants in my garden and I had no idea. Thank you.
Such beautiful flowers, who would guess?
The Jimson weed is used by some as a hallucinogenic and is called datura on various drug websites. Check out http://www.erowid.com for information on the effects of Jimson Weed as a drug, its pretty interesting.
Interesting information, we have plenty of jimpson weed, privit, and yew among others. We always had jimpson weed rowing in and around the pasture but the cows and mules never touched it. When we kids ran thorugh it it would make our legs itch like crazy.
Nice trivia,very informative!
These deadly plants sure look all beautiful plants, not ‘evil’ looking at all.
nice work sir! very useful to students like me who are engaged in scientific studies..
monkshood & aconitum are the same thing: monkshood is the common name for a variety of aconitum (aconitum being the latin name).
nearly every one of the plants on this list are the sources for important drugs, many of which fight cancer (Oleander, Yew, Acontium/Monk’s Hood). Toxins, when ingested in extremely small quantities (many millions of times less potent than the natural form) can be incredibly effective at treating some very serious ailments. I’m surprised Fox glove (aka Digitalis) is not on your list (and it is used to treat a myriad of heart conditions).
oh, and Monk’s Hood is a species of Acontium (wolf’s Bane is another species of Acontium)… just thought you’d like to know that you’ve got a repeat on your list.
and to “Quiet Voice” whom thought that one of these plants is Jasmine, you’re mistaken (you’re probably confusing it with Oleander which has the latin name Nerium Oleander versus Jasmine which can be any number of sepcies of Jasminum)
Most of these plants are so beautiful that you wouldn’t think them to be harmful. I was given a dumbcane plant recently and found out after I brought it home that it is poisonous. I would like to get rid of it but I don’t know what to do with it. We have a couple of acres of land here and I could dispose of it somewhere outside but I am afraid animals might try to eat it. We don’t have young children or pets to worry about but, I have noticed when I touch the leaves that my skin feels like I have been around pink insulation. Any ideas about how to dispose of it would be helpful.
Interesting. Isn’t it curious that so many are surprised that a plant or flower perceived to be beautiful may also be deadly!
Jacob
thanks to all of you guys,
thanks carol and medicine- yes they’re the same,there was a slight problem on the numbering-i’ve already submitted a fix though and fox glove is included in the list.
Very informative.
The Doll’s Eye looks to me like the loudest advertiser of ‘Leave me alone’.
They just look alien don’t they?!
Nice post, thanks for sharing!
excellent article, thank you for sharing.
Nice post. Could you please for us non-native English speakers supply the Latin names as well? Thanks!
thanks again to all of you,
Emile thank you,no problem with that, I’ll include their Latin names, just check it out later or maybe by tomorrow.
Like Emile I’m missing the botanical names and perhaps the family of the plants. Thank you.
There is more than I obviously thought. The foxglove was one of my fav’s but now I think not, cause you got to watch out for kids touching or eating them.
Fantastic article Nobert, thankyou for letting us all know. It’s just that extra bit of information about the plants that matter the most.
One striking thing about all the plants is that they are all so beautiful.
A lovely collection of colourful plants. A great article.
* @ Anne Lyken-Garner* There has been foxglove growing around my house for years. I have touched it many times and it does not cause any iritation. I have a 4 year old niece that is at my house often and she loves flowers. She has never tried to eat any of them. Kids are smart if you teach them.
“Deadly” information on plants…and nice pics
I have lots of Foxglove around my house. They use the plant for a heart medicine.
I also have yew and dolls eye.
Does Castor oil come from the castor oil plant?
Also the moonflower is a close relative of Jimson weed that is toxic. I have lots of moonflower too, but I was already aware of it being toxic.
Good list!!
Great article!
Great list. I have several of these plants and only knew about a few of them being poisonous. I am not surprised though, it seems that the prettier things are, the more deadly they can be. I also found out lately that although we eat rhubarb and it is good for you, if the leaves are boiled, the liquid can kill you.
Very interesting article, but it got a bit old with the poison.
Really interesting, and very informative!!!
wow thanks for putting this together!
This only shows that what you don’t know can harm you. I hope everybody will get the chance to read this. Thanks for posting.
Great article Norbert! Those Doll’s Eyes plants look really weird. Keep up the good work buddy!
Once againg, a great article. Well Done.
more plants to beaware of! Good stuff to know!
incredible but true, thanks a lot
It is surprising how little we know about Mother Nature. This article with photos has opened my eyes and am becoming a nature lover.
You did a nice job with your site, especially including the pictures. In my own research I’ve found that white snakeroot is known by two botanical names, Eupatorium rugosum as well as Ageratina altissima. No idea why this is. On my site, Elders First – Improving Quality of Life for Folks with Alzheimer’s and All Elders, I have a section on creating gardens for nursing homes, specifically for folks with Alzheimer’s. Obviously it’s important to choose plants carefully so no one accidentally eats something toxic. Just thought you’d like to know that I put a link to this site on my LINKS page and credited you. I’m adding more toxic plant lists as well as “safe” plant lists, so consider linking back. The address is http://eldersfirst.squarespace.com/blog/. Thanks!
There is a up and downside to all things! Great article!
I’m glad most of these are fairly easy to identify as inedible, but the moonseed fruit looks a lot like currants in the picture. I guess the only way to tell is to squeeze one, since the seeds are different.
Thanks for this, its good to know. By the way, youve listed 21 plants, not 20, you forgot to number the plant,
Aconitum.
Awesome facts. great research bra.
interesting article you have here….well done
I printing this pages, and after work I will go around my house searching and destroying all similar! My wife gona kill me, but ….
Question? We have 11 acres of these plants—do domestic cats know not to eat them? We have 4 maincoon cats that we recently allow to go outside, but wouldn’t like them to die.
I am no professional regarding that matter, but as far as i know, cats are highly intelligent animals and they know what particular plant they need to eat when they’re sick and haven’t heard any of them getting poisoned by poisonous plants,however, this is just my personal opinion, i would suggest that it would be better to ask an expert regarding the matter. thanks
I am a nurse and we use belladonna and opium suppositories to control rectal pain and bladder spasms after inserting catheters into the prostate for brachytherapy. It is quite effective. I commend the author of this page and am glad to finally observe what the plant looks like. Thanx
Very informative. It would also be very helpful to include most common locations for all the plants. You have broad information for a few, but some of the worried commenters might feel a bit better to learn that many grow nowhere near them…
Great artiocle. Very informative and some fabulous pictures.
Great article and well researched. I have plenty of Dumbcane plants in my backyard. I did not know that it is harmful. I’ll start removing them.
It is very interesting.
It is worth knowing thanks for that.
Nobert,
Very interesting article, and informative too! Poisonous plants have long interested me. Its absolutely amazes me just how many of these deadly plants lurk in our back yards. You did a great job researching this article. Keep up the good work Nobert. Its informative articles like this that keep people safe. Excellent writing!!!
Randy
I wasn’t aware Poison Ivy could be deadly. I thought it only made you itch.
Note, by the way, this isn’t a list of the most toxic plants — it’s a list of the deadliest. That is, the plants that result in the most fatalities. Ugly or boring plants are less likely to wind up in gardens, where they’re less likely to be eaten by the unwary.
So it’s not surprising that the most deadly plants are also beautiful.
Thank you very informative. I have seen many of these plants and had no idea of there levles of toxin.
Well, I don’t know about that because Actaea pachypoda is ugly as hell. Look at it up there. It’s red with big white berries that look like eyeballs. it scared me a bit when I first saw the photo, lol.
i hav the plant #2 @ home!!
lolzzz…:D
photoshopped
Very interesting indeed. Thanks for this fascinating list. Did not know so many of these were so deadly. I have been told that even the smoke of burning oleander does you no good at all, could be true!
Hell, I’ve been hanging around oleanders for years as a child, I never knew they were poisonous.
Excellent article, fine photos.
thank you all,i appreciate your support very much
Where’s the RSS feed?
Very informative! I only knew that about 5 of these beauties were so lethal!
Nice article, but a bit deceptive. The plants listed are obviously only those of commercial,horticultural or legal importance in the west. There are numerous plants that I know of in Africa that are more toxic than at least some of those those mentioned. This includes plants such as Boophane disticha (bushman poison bulb), Acokanthera oppositifolia (bushman’s poison bush), the local equivalent of poison ivy Smodingium argutum (African Poison Ivy) and several others. Many of these plants, as the common names suggest, are/were used traditionally in hunting (i.e. poisoning arrows). Most recorded fatalities from these plants are however associated with traditional medicinal use that went wrong. Often these include multiple fatalities where these plants are used in ritual ceremonies. I’m sure several other not-so-first-world countries and regions can boast or complain about their own share of lethal plants.
Mushrooms are fungi, not plants.
Extremely unfortunate about your friend. If you can’t definitely identify wild mushrooms as safe to eat, then it’s not worth the risk.
“Brugmansia” is a species of Datura too.
Sweet very informative.
There is plant called a “Triffid”. Very mobile and agressive has sluaghtered humans en masse. In the event you encounter one do not to engage it in conversation, this will antagonise it further. Soiling your trousers and running away screaming like a little girl is the only defence but has yet to prove effective with 100% motatlity rate.
The Lion plant is an inhabitant of Africa. It hunts in packs thriving on wildebest and antelope. If approached by one shout “BE OFF WITH YOU!!!!” This will extend your like expectancy by one nano second.
Hi Mr Robert…
Thank You, your article was helping me to do my homework..
God bless you