7 Spring Flowers that Will Kill You

7 Spring Flowers that Will Kill You

A Killer Spring flower, how curious, cool, and creepy is that? And by “killer” blooms, I do not mean flowers that kill little insects or occasionally snag a mouse, but flowers that have actually killed large numbers of people in the United States over the years.

We know all plants contain some toxins that protect them against predators. But these flowering plants contain such high doses of toxins that some are capable of killing you within just a few hours of contact. It is crazy now, having written this, to know that some of the plants, weeds, and flowers that we grew up playing around could have killed us with just one bite or finger prick! Just knowing how curious children can be; we must educate ourselves and our little ones about these deadly beauties.

 

(Credit - http://www.rodale.com/common-poisonous-plants/oleander)

7. The Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants grown in warmer climates all over the United States. It is even intentionally planted to decorate California’s highway medians because it is so heat and drought tolerant. These pretty pedaled plants are also incredibly fragrant, making them popular for backyard landscaping as well, but be warned, keep children and pets away from this fatal flower. Ingesting even a small amount of this bright beauty can cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding or possibly cardiac arrest.  Even the sap from these budding blossoms can cause skin irritations, numbness, or inflammation if it comes in contact with your skin. So be very careful when planning for spring planting. This may be one you want to leave off your Home & Garden shopping list.

(Credit: http://listverse.com/2011/07/02/top-10-plants-that-will-kill-you/snakeroot)

6. White snake root is an incredibly poisonous plant that grows wild all over the US. This snow white flower produces a fluffy, deadly seed after it blooms. The seeds are frequently picked up by the wind and carried to varying locations, which can cause major health issues. When the plant or seed are eaten by cattle, the toxins it carries can be absorbed into their milk and fat, causing those who then eat the beef or drink the milk, to frequently contract Milk Sickness, which is incredibly fatal. Thousands of European settlers were said to have died from Milk Sickness in the early 19th century. It’s also believed that, Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln’s mother, died from the dreaded disease.

(Credit - http://www.rodale.com/common-poisonous-plants/daphne)

5. Daphne is a sweet, strong fragrant evergreen shrub that produces the prettiest pink flowers you have ever seen. It is often a welcome sign of spring in the warmer parts of the country. But is pretty is as pretty does? Based on our title, I bet you are guessing, nope. You are correct. The inviting bloom is not the issue in this particular case though; it is the small tantalizing berry that the plant bears that has us suggesting it be removed from your garden or potting plans this sunny season. Eating even a few of these sweet little berries could be fatal. If the color and aroma of this beautiful blooming plant are a must have addition for your floral array, you may want to plant it in less easily accessible area, out of the reach of your children and your furriest family members. You never know, I once had an uncle eat a mushroom out of my front yard. Some grown-ups need a lesson in what is accepted as edible too. Just saying…

(Credit: http://listverse.com/2011/07/02/top-10-plants-that-will-kill-you/angelstrumpet)

4. Angel’s trumpets are native to South America, but have gained popularity in the warmer climates of the US for many years. The flowers bloom in a variety of sizes and can produce white, yellow, orange, and pink blooms. Making them appealing to many color lovers. They are frequently seen around pools and in resort locations. But, do not these angelic buds fool you! They are deadly as well as in demand. Tropane alkaloid scopolamine and atropine are the two deadly toxins that this unassuming blossom produces. All parts of the plant can be cooked into a tea and ingested as a hallucinogenic by recreational drug users. The toxic levels vary from plant to plant, so as a result, users of the toxic tea have overdosed and died from it. Just one more reason to just say no and save a pretty plant in the process.

(Credit: http://www.rodale.com/common-poisonous-plants/wolfsbane)

3. Wolfsbane or woman’s bane or the devils helmet are pretty purple bloomed perennial plants that are frequently seen in more mountainous regions and contains very large quantities of a poison called alkaloid pseudaconitine. This particular poison has historically been used on the tips of arrow heads for hunting purposes. The toxic balm help sedate the prey. When ingested, symptoms, including burning in the limbs and abdomen, set in immediately. There have been cases of those who ingested the poison dying within 6 hours of ingestion. Wolfsbane’s claim to fame, other than its pretty petals, is that it is mentioned frequently in mythology and folk lore as werewolf repellant, or as having the power to induce the wolf like transition regardless of the moon’s station. Creepy and cool, I told you…

(Credit: http://www.rodale.com/common-poisonous-plants/lantana)

2. Lantana is a perennial flowering plant that is hugely popular in the southern states. I personally purchase it occasionally and it adorns my own home every spring. It is an aromatic flower that grows in red, orange, white and yellow varieties. It is a low maintenance flower that can be a beautiful, fragrant addition to any patio, porch, yard or deck, but please beware the bite size berries that it produces. They’re most toxic while still green, but even eating the blackish berries can make an adult deathly ill and have reportedly killed children and animals. Removing this plant, had I known its dangers, would have probably been wise when my kids were younger. Now they can be trusted, I hope, not to eat berries from the back yard. Hmm, or maybe they can’t? Guess none of us are ever too old for a little Botany lesson. Sounds like a plan. They will be thrilled….

(Credit: http://listverse.com/2011/07/02/top-10-plants-that-will-kill-you/castor)

1. Luckily I barely missed the days of Castor Oil and thankfully so. No one knew at the time it was derived from the most poisonous plant in the world. Castor plants are native to Africa and India, but are widely grown as an ornamental plant all over the World. I’ve seen it and had no idea what it was. I call it the Cat in the Hat flower. Don’t ask me why. The poison ricin, is concentrated in the seeds of the plant and are toxic enough to kill a human within 2 days of ingestion, causing a long, agonizing, and unstoppable death. The symptoms experienced within the first few hours include a burning sensation in the throat & mouth, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Strangely, humans are the most sensitive to these seeds; animals can eat 10 to 20 times as many seeds as humans without incurring the same fatal results. The unique and fuzzy castor plant currently holds the Guinness World Record for most poisonous plant in the World. Making it number 1 on our list of “Spring Flowers that Will Kill You Deader than Dirt.”