10 Plants That Will Kill You

Occasionally, a report will surface of a hiker foolishly ingesting unknown mushrooms they spotted on their hike, leading to severe food poisoning, or in extreme cases, death. Plants may not be able to fight back using tooth or claw, but certain species have evolved to act as poison pills, containing toxins that can render paralysis within minutes. 

Some of those very poisons, including monkshood, figure in folklore as tools assassins used to kill their enemies. Although medical science and common sense have evolved to the point where most people won’t place unknown flowers in their mouths, it’s still interesting to know which plants can end your life on a whim. 

Below is a list of plants that can quickly become deadly ingested or handled improperly. For a list of relatively safe plants, check out Vego’s collection of live plants, recommended to be grown in raised garden beds. 

 

1. Aconite (Monkshood)

Travelers along the historic Hippie Trail in the ‘70s could expect a variety of dangers, from thieves and hallucinogenic substances to murderers. At this point, the deadly monkshood, commonly found in mountainous areas along the Hippie Trail, may be the least of their worries. That is not to say that monkshood, with names like wolfsbane and devil’s helmet, is harmless. It contains alkaloids that will cause seizures and nausea, eventually speedrunning you to an early grave if ingested in large enough doses. 

2. Manchineel Tree 

On the surface, the manchineel tree is seemingly innocuous, bearing resemblance to a wild apple tree, with small, green fruit. But a single bite can prove fatal. Before the modern taxa of plants became well-elucidated, shipwrecked sailors and Spanish conquistadors were felled by the poisonous manchineel tree. In the present-day, every now and then, unlucky tourists have fallen prey to its clutches. An endangered species native to the brackish coastal waters of Florida, the manchineel tree is considered the most dangerous tree in the world. 

In short, eating a manchineel entails experiencing the most excruciating pain, which isn’t an exaggeration. Even being in the immediate proximity of the tree can be lethal. All parts of the manchineel tree are chock full of toxins, some of which are yet unknown to mankind. When it rains, the milky sap of the manchineel tree leeches down, resulting in scalding skin irritations even with a single drop. Minimal contact with any part of the tree can lead to breathing problems or even temporary blindness. 

3. Oleander

Oleander may have a romanticized name in English and a fairly innocuous appearance, but its vulgar Italian name, which translates to ‘ass killer,’ should stop you from touching it. Beneath its pretty exterior lie lethal cardiac glycosides that can cause violent illness. Its sap is an irritant, and even a simple trimming can cause shortness of breath. Still, it is grown as an ornamental shrub by those willing to take the risk or simply harboring a hatred of children. 

4. Foxglove

The foxglove plant may not have a storied past like the deadly nightshade, but it is still not entirely free from blame. Its lethal compounds disrupt the heart’s electrical activity, leading to death if consumed in large quantities. Ironically, compounds that give foxglove its toxicity have yielded treatment for heart conditions, but in improper doses, bane and cure becomes indistinguishable. 

5. Deadly Nightshade

To say that it’s not a good idea to get belladonna into your system is like comparing the Spanish flu to a mild cold. Throughout history, it has allegedly been used as a poison, the fatalistic leading lady in medieval assassinations. All parts of the plant, especially the berries and leaves, contain tropane alkaloids, which can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms: dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, delirium, loss of balance, and ultimately, death. 

6. Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are less shuddersome than the other plants on the list, but their leaves contain grayanotoxins, which can cause dizziness, vomiting, and even death when consumed. Of more interest is the fabled “mad honey,” a bioweapon and hallucinogen extracted from the flowers of rhododendron species, particularly Rhododendron ponticum. Produced principally in Nepal and Turkey, mad honey is definitely not recommended for tourists due to its numbing, head-spinning effects. 

7. Water Hemlock

On its surface, it appears unassuming – milquetoast almost – but what you don’t know will kill you. Water hemlock’s ability to incite convulsive seizures, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains makes it the most violently toxic plant in all of North America. The roots, concentrated with cicutoxin, are the most toxic part. Just hours after ingesting, expect death via respiratory failure or ventricular fibrillation. 

8. English Yew

The English yew is a common fixture in many landscapes, but it contains toxins in its needles and seeds. Eating the berries themselves might not be fatal, but consuming the seeds or needles can lead to dizziness, difficulty breathing, and death. Ingestion of large amounts can lead to cardiac arrest.

9. Cerbera Odollam (a.k.a. The Suicide Tree)

Responsible for a spate of suicidal poisonings in Kerala, this little-known tree produces mango-like green fruit. The seeds within the fruit are toxic killers, containing an active poison called cerberin. Its hilarious name, the pong pong tree, becomes less funny considering its role in thousands of deaths each year in the past. Recently, it has been featured as the poison fruit in The White Lotus. 

10. Angel’s Trumpet

The angel’s trumpet plant produces large, fragrant flowers that dangle in heavenly formation, but its sordid traits have led it to be dubbed the “Devil’s Breath.” It contains the same alkaloids found in belladonna, but in more potent concentrations. Scopolamine, in particular, is used by criminals, robbing victims of their consciousness, their belongings, and sometimes, their life. The hallucinations experienced are especially volatile – otherworldly and fiendish, like an orphic singer’s voice on drugs.