These Common Plants Aren’t as Safe as You Think—Here’s Why
Although Oleander’s striking pink, white, and red flowers make it a popular choice, every part of this plant is highly toxic, containing compounds that can affect the heart if ingested.
Foxglove’s tall spikes of purple, pink, and white blooms make it a favorite for garden borders. It contains cardiac glycoside, a compound typically used in medicine to regulate heart function, but it can be highly toxic when consumed directly from the plant.
Poison ivy is one of the most well-known harmful plants in the U.S. Its three-leaved structure is easily recognizable, yet still, it’s easy to brush against unknowingly. Contact with poison ivy’s oil, urushiol, can lead to an itchy, painful rash lasting for days or weeks.
Pokeweed, a plant that often grows wild across the U.S., can easily be mistaken for an innocuous weed due to its distinctive dark purple berries. However, every part of this plant contains toxins, including phytolacca, a potent irritant known to cause severe gastrointestinal distress in humans and animals
The castor bean plant, with its large, exotic-looking leaves and bright seeds, is often used as an ornament in gardens. Despite its beauty, castor beans contain ricin, one of the most toxic natural substances
Deadly nightshade, or belladonna, is a naturally occurring plant in some U.S. areas, particularly in wooded and shady regions. Its dark berries are highly toxic, containing alkaloids like atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine that interfere with the nervous system
Poison hemlock resembles other non-toxic plants, but it can cause accidental poisoning. Considered one of the most toxic plants in North America, poison hemlock contains a toxin called coniine, which can trigger severe respiratory issues if ingested