13 Deadly Plants You Should Never Eat

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When you think of dangerous things in nature, you might picture wild animals or harsh weather. But some of the deadliest threats can be in your backyard or local park—in the form of beautiful, seemingly harmless plants. While many plants are edible and safe, others carry hidden toxins that can cause severe illness or even death if consumed.

Whether foraging in the wild or just curious about the plants around you, you should know which ones to avoid. Here are 13 deadly plants you should never eat and how to recognize them.

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)

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Also known as deadly nightshade, belladonna is one of the most infamous poisonous plants. Its shiny black berries might look tempting, but consuming even a small amount can cause hallucinations, seizures, and death. All parts of the plant are toxic, with the berries and roots being the most dangerous.

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

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Oleander is a common ornamental plant with beautiful flowers, but it is also highly toxic. Every part of the plant, from the leaves to the stems and flowers, contains deadly cardiac glycosides. Even inhaling the smoke from burning oleander can be lethal. Ingesting oleander can cause severe vomiting, irregular heartbeats, and potentially fatal heart failure.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta spp.)

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Often considered one of the most toxic plants in North America, water hemlock is highly poisonous. Its white flowers and long stems may resemble other wild edibles, but a tiny bite can cause violent convulsions, respiratory failure, and death. The roots are particularly toxic.

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

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The castor bean plant produces seeds used to make castor oil, but those same seeds contain one of the deadliest poisons known to humans: ricin. Swallowing even one or two seeds can be fatal for an adult, while smaller amounts can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

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Foxglove is a tall, stunning plant with bell-shaped flowers, often in gardens and forests. While it’s valued for its medicinal use in heart medications, it’s highly toxic when ingested. Consuming foxglove can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, irregular heartbeat, and death.

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)

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Also known as devil’s trumpet, jimsonweed is highly toxic and hallucinogenic. Its seeds and leaves contain potent alkaloids that can lead to delirium, hallucinations, and seizures. The plant is dangerous, both fresh and dried, and even small amounts can be lethal.

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

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White snakeroot has caused many accidental poisonings, particularly in livestock. Its toxic chemical, tremetol, can cause “milk sickness” in humans who consume dairy products from cows grazed on it.

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

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Lily of the valley may look delicate and smell lovely, but it’s highly poisonous. Ingesting its bell-shaped flowers or red berries can lead to nausea, slowed heart rate, and cardiac arrest. All parts of the plant are toxic, and handling it can cause skin irritation.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)

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The rosary pea plant has striking red seeds with black spots, often used in jewelry. However, these seeds contain abrin, a potent toxin. Just one crushed seed can be enough to kill a human.

Monkshood (Aconitum spp)

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Also known as wolfsbane, monkshood is a beautiful but deadly plant. Its hooded purple flowers contain aconitine, a potent toxin that can cause numbness, diarrhea, and fatal heart irregularities if ingested.

Yew (Taxus spp.)

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The yew tree may look like a festive addition to your garden, but its leaves, seeds, and bark are poisonous. Ingesting yew can cause difficulty breathing, muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure. The red berries are particularly deceptive, as only the fleshy part surrounding the seed is safe—everything else is toxic.

Death Cap Mushroom (Amanita phalloides)

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Mushrooms are known for being tricky to identify, and the death cap is one of the deadliest. Often mistaken for edible varieties, this mushroom causes severe liver and kidney damage after ingestion. Symptoms may not appear until several hours later, and without prompt treatment, the poisoning is often fatal.

Rhubarb Leaves (Rheum rhabarbarum)

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While rhubarb stalks are commonly used in pies and jams, the leaves are highly toxic. They contain oxalic acid, which can cause difficulty breathing, seizures, and kidney failure. Always be sure to trim off the leaves before preparing rhubarb.

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