When you want to add colour or charm to your garden, there are plenty of flowers that can do the job. However, when you’re considering the ideal plant for your space, remember that there are certain options that can be harmful, not only for your pets but also for your loved ones.
These top 10 poisonous flowers can cause dangerous effects, from skin irritation, allergies, and nausea to irregular heartbeats, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest. So, if you plan on cultivating or adding them to your floral arrangement, make sure you handle these blooms with care.
| Warning:If you have children and/or pets around the house, it’s not advisable to plant any of the flowers in this list. While some of them may seem safe to grow in the garden and harmless, they can be highly toxic and can have fatal effects. |
1. Oleander
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Naturally growing into the shape of a rounded shrub, oleander plants have dark green, dense foliage, making them ideal as borders for gardens. Additionally, they produce clusters of red, white, or pink flowers that emit a sweet, enticing scent.
While the beauty of oleanders is well-loved, it’s considered among the top 10 most poisonous flowers. They contain toxic compounds such as nerine and oleandrin. When ingested, these flowers can affect the digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems simultaneously. Without proper intervention, a person or pet can experience seizures, tremors, dizziness, and eventually, death.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Oleander
Since oleanders are ornamental shrubs, many gardeners still plant them despite their toxicity. Whether you’re growing them or simply adding them to a flower arrangement, make sure you wear gloves because the sap of oleanders can also cause skin and eye irritation.
Usually, it’s easier to purchase an oleander bush and start from there. However, if you’re taking this approach, make sure that the plant is already at least a year old and has a straight, robust central stem.
You can let your oleander grow into its naturally round, bushy shape, but you can also train it into becoming a single-stemmed or multi-stemmed tree that can be as tall as 19 feet.
2. Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade
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Since the Roman era, belladonna has been known to be toxic and often used to poison enemies. While the reddish-purple and tubular flowers of belladonna are wonderful to behold, their berries are the deadliest part of the plant.
Because belladonnas contain steroidal alkaloids, when ingested, they can affect the nervous system and paralyse gastrointestinal muscles. Their saponins can also cause diarrhea and salivation. Initial symptoms of poisoning include pupil dilation and hallucinations. Eventually, it can cause respiratory failure that may lead to death.
Handling Tips for Belladonna
While you can buy belladonna seeds and cultivate them yourself, it’s not advisable to have the plant in your garden. Belladonna berries are quite shiny and appetising, inviting people to have a taste.
Moreover, if nightshade plants happen to grow randomly in your yard, the best course of action is to remove them. When doing so, make sure that most of your skin is covered by wearing gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and boots. It’s also advisable to wear a full-face respirator or goggles to ensure you have enough protection.
Additionally, make sure to remove the plant from its roots to prevent regrowth. Once you’re done, dispose of the belladonna in the bin and disinfect all the tools you used and the clothes you wore.
3. Monkshood
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Also referred to as queen of poisons, aconitum, and wolfsbane, monkshood also resembles another toxic plant, larkspur. All parts of this plant, notably its roots, contain aconitine, which is deadly poisonous.
However, in certain Eastern medicine practices, the tubers of a monkshood plant are prepared for herbal remedies. Moreover, the right process removes the harmful properties, turning the tubers into a non-inflammatory medication.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Monkshood
It’s understandable for anyone to want to cultivate monkshood, especially since the larkspur-like appearance can add height and volume to any floral arrangement. However, before you handle monkshood, make sure to wear garden gloves to ensure you have adequate protection.
If you’re growing monkshood, make sure that you use well-draining soil. While it can survive under partial shade and full sunlight, the plant struggles in hot conditions. Also, make sure that the soil is always moist but not waterlogged. During the spring season, it needs even more frequent watering, but once it’s established, it can survive brief periods of drought.
4. Angel’s Trumpet
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While the name and appearance of angel’s trumpet are ethereal, its effects when ingested are definitely not heavenly. All parts of this shrub or small tree contain significant amounts of tropane alkaloids, including scopolamine and norhyoscine.
In certain Amazonian practices, this plant is used for rituals due to its hallucinogenic effects. However, when abused, angel’s trumpet can adversely affect the autonomic nervous system, including the eyes, digestive system, and heart. While blurred vision, dilated pupils, and delirium are the usual side effects of ingesting this plant, without proper intervention, it can put a person into a coma or even cause death.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Angel’s Trumpet
As long as you are aware and wary of the fatal effects of angel’s trumpet, this plant can be a nice, decorative addition to your garden. Additionally, this perennial plant is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional watering during its early stages.
Also, it’s best to plant angel’s trumpet during the spring season to give it time to become more established before summer. At the same time, remember to use a well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter and place it in an area that receives direct sunlight for at least six hours.
5. Azaleas
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To humans, azaleas can be fairly harmless, especially when ingested in small amounts. However, for cats and dogs, eating a few leaves can be dangerous and even fatal.
Also known as rhododendrons, the nectar of this flowering shrub can cause hallucinogenic side effects. In historical accounts, this plant was referred to as “mad honey” because Turkish royalty used its nectar to sedate Roman soldiers. It may not be as dangerous as other plants in this list, but you should still be careful if you want to have it around your garden.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Azaleas
When planting azaleas, do so during the cooler seasons and choose an area that gets partial sun. Also, use well-draining soil mixed with organic matter and make sure that the top of the root ball remains exposed.
Because azaleas have shallow roots, they can be sensitive to waterlogging. If you overwater the plant, the root may end up rotting or developing certain diseases. However, to avoid leaf curl, wilting, or brown foliage, make sure to increase watering during dry or hot spells.
6. Hemlock
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Found along marshland and banks of rivers, pools, and streams, water hemlock is considered to be among the most poisonous plants in Europe and North America. With its toxic alkaloids, water hemlock can cause seizures and convulsions. What’s more, the effects can manifest within 15 minutes of ingestion.
Most of the time, people accidentally ingest water hemlock because they misidentify the plant. Moreover, it looks a lot similar to Queen Anne’s Lace, which is why it’s important to know the difference between the two. For example, Queen Anne’s Lace has bristly, hairy stems. On the other hand, water hemlock’s stems are smooth and have purple splotches.
Handling Tips for Water Hemlock
While water hemlock may have the same appeal as Queen Anne’s Lace, it’s not advisable to cultivate it. Even if you don’t ingest it, brushing up against the plant can cause skin irritation.
So, if you encounter this plant, it’s best to avoid it. However, if for some reason, they grew in your garden, you should remove them. Before you do so, make sure to wear protective clothing, a mask, and gloves.
Instead of pulling the plant, dig it out from the taproot or use glyphosate treatment to kill it. Once you’ve discarded the water hemlock, make sure to wash your hands with soap. Also, continue to monitor the area to ensure that there’s no seedling growth.
7. Castor Oil Plant
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Also known as castor bean, the castor oil plant features red, spiky flowers and star-shaped leaves with reddish, lobed segments. While touching its flowers, leaves, and sap can cause skin irritation, what makes this plant dangerous is the ricin found in its seeds.
Several studies have been conducted on ricin as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for treating various cancers. However, in popular culture, it’s widely recognised as a poisonous substance. Castor bean can be processed into a pellet, mist, or powder, and even a milligram of it can be fatal to a fully grown adult.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Castor Oil Plant
While castor bean is highly toxic, it is the very same seed from which you can get the oil that is primarily used as a laxative or skin moisturiser. Once cooked, dried, pressed, and refined, the oil is rid of the poisonous ricin. For this purpose, people continue to cultivate castor plants.
If you’re planning to grow castor oil plants, choose a windless, warm location that gets full sun. Since brushing against the plant can cause skin rashes, ensure that you’re wearing gardening gloves and that your skin is covered. Also, opt for well-draining soil that’s rich in nutrients and humus. Moreover, make sure to water the plant frequently while it’s still young. However, once it becomes established, it can survive with minimal care.
8. Autumn Crocus
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Also referred to as meadow saffron and naked lady, autumn crocuses comprise around 60 species of flowers originating from the Mediterranean area. Some of the species in this genus have fall-blooming bulbs, hence the name “autumn crocus”. What’s more, this plant is quite lovely, with pink, purple, or white flowers singularly produced atop long, tubular stems.
While autumn crocuses are beautiful to admire, it’s worth noting that all of their parts are poisonous. Moreover, the highest concentrations of their toxic alkaloids can be found in their seeds and flowers. When ingested, the autumn crocus can cause multiple organ failure. What’s more, it only takes 40 mg of a concentrated dose of the plant’s toxins to cause fatal effects to a 50 kg person.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Autumn Crocus
As long as you’re aware of the dangers of ingesting autumn crocuses, it’s generally safe to have them in your garden. When you decide to grow them, make sure you choose a moist, sunny, and wind-protected area. Also, use nutrient-rich, moist, and loamy soil to ensure they have the ideal growing environment.
If you want to see the blooms by autumn, plant the corms during the summer months. Additionally, make sure to place them around 10 cm deep in the ground to prevent dehydration.
What’s great about autumn crocuses is that, aside from reproducing via seeds, they also propagate via daughter corms. So, eventually, they will create a carpet of flowers in your garden bed.
9. Foxglove
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Foxglove is a biennial shrub that natively grows in Western Asia, Europe, and northwestern Africa. While its enchanting beauty easily adds a whimsical flair to any garden, it contains cardiac glycosides such as digitalin and digitoxin, which can have harmful effects. For example, your skin can absorb the toxins when you touch the plant, causing allergic reactions.
Moreover, ingesting the cardiac glycosides of a foxglove can cause heart disruptions such as muscle contractions and changes in heart rate. For the same reason, this plant is also used as medicine, specifically for correcting heart problems. However, it’s not advisable to self-medicate because outside the ideal dose, it can cause vomiting, hyperkalaemia, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Foxglove
When you’re growing foxglove plants, it’s ideal to purchase them in nursery pots. However, if you want a bit of a challenge, you can also plant them from the seed and wait a full year before they bloom.
Make sure to grow your foxglove plants in a location that gets full sun to partial shade. Also, opt for slightly acidic, well-draining soil, especially since this plant is susceptible to crown rot. While you need to keep the soil moist, avoid overwatering it because doing so might cause fungal disease. At the same time, add about an inch of perfectly decomposed mulch to provide adequate nutrients for your foxglove.
10. Lily of the Valley
The fresh, green fragrance of a lily of the valley is the perfect representation of spring’s arrival. What’s more, the delicate, bell-shaped flowers of this plant have long been associated with royalty, love, and purity.
Lily of the valley may have adorned the bridal bouquets of Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly, and most recently, Selena Gomez, but this dainty flower is highly toxic. Like foxglove, the lily of the valley also contains cardiac glycosides. Ingesting its berries, flowers, and even foliage may cause headaches, vomiting, blurry vision, and irregular heartbeat.
Planting, Care, and Handling Tips for Lily of the Valley
If you have a shaded garden or you live near woodland areas, you may be able to successfully cultivate lily of the valley. While some direct sunlight will not bring harm to the plant, it will need protection from the harsh sun during the afternoons. So, if it gets particularly warm in your area, you need to grow your lily of the valley in a shaded area.
Lily of the valley can survive in various soil types, especially clay soil. However, it particularly likes acidic to neutral soil pH. Moreover, make sure to keep the soil moist but avoid overwatering to the point that it becomes soggy.
10 Non-Toxic Alternatives to Poisonous Flowers
If you have kids or pets running around your garden, you should think twice before growing any of the top 10 most poisonous flowers we mentioned in this article. However, if you’re worried about sacrificing the beauty of your garden, you can opt for flowers that are safe to eat. Besides, aside from being a feast to the eyes, some of these blooms can be quite tasty too! You can use them as garnish, toss them into your salad, or even use them as decorations for cakes.
1. Sunflowers
When you’re growing sunflowers in your garden, you’re hitting two birds with one stone. Aside from brightening up your place, these flowers can also give you seeds that you and your kids can snack on. Even when not yet fully grown, you can cook the sunflower buds and treat them like artichokes. They taste great when you toss them in the pan with butter and garlic.
2. Pansies and Violas
Aside from being pretty symbols of love and remembrance, pansies and violas are also edible flowers that are typically used as garnish or dessert décor. If you’re planning to grow them in your garden, make sure you do so during cooler months, as these flowers do not thrive under hot weather. If you plant them directly in the ground, they can propagate by themselves, as these flowers have the ability to self-seed.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are widely known for their bright red, orange, and yellow flowers that resemble trumpets. What’s more, these edible flowers have a touch of sweetness and are packed with vitamin C. Aside from its blooms, the stems and leaves of nasturtiums are edible, and if properly prepared, the seeds can be used as caper substitutes.
4. Marigolds
Many species of marigolds are edible, and their petals can add a subtle spicy or citrusy flavour to dishes. Besides, these colourful flowers are easy to grow and maintain, making them the ideal summer addition to your garden. While marigolds are the quintessential symbol of the Day of the Dead, their long-lasting blooms can easily brighten any space.
5. Lavender
Aside from adding a woody, sweet scent to your garden, lavender flowers are also edible. You can infuse them in honey or use them to flavour cookies, muffins, and cakes. When you cultivate them, they can also attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. At the same time, their purple colour can add a calming touch when used as border plants or ornamental shrubs.
Get Non-Toxic Flowers Delivered to Your Doorstep
While it can be tempting to cultivate oleanders, angel’s trumpets, and other highly toxic flowers, they pose a serious risk for children and pets. However, you don’t have to sacrifice the beauty of fresh blooms for the safety of your loved ones.
At Flowers Across Sydney, you’ll find a wide range of non-toxic blooms, including sunflowers, roses, gerberas, and snapdragons, among many others. What’s more, you don’t have to toil and sweat just to enjoy these captivating flowers. All you need to do is order from our website, and we’ll have the carefully arranged bouquet delivered right at your doorstep.
Browse the lovely collections at Flowers Across Sydney today and find the safe and exquisite floral arrangement that you want.
FAQs About Poisonous and Deadly Flowers
Which is the most poisonous flower in the world?
There are several flowers that can fit the description of the “most poisonous flower” in the world. For instance, belladonna or deadly nightshade contains toxic substances like scopolamine and atropine. Even a small amount of these toxins can cause severe delirium, paralysis, convulsions, and even death. Oleander is another deadly flower that contains potent cardiac glycosides, such as thevetin and oleandrin. When ingested, these toxins can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and sudden cardiac arrest.
Which flower is toxic to humans?
Several lovely flowers are toxic to humans when ingested. Aside from the aforementioned examples like oleander and deadly nightshade, other plants that can cause skin irritation and poisoning include angel’s trumpet, foxglove, monkshood, and lily of the valley.
Which plant is the queen of poison?
Also referred to as wolfsbane, monkshood, and devil’s helmet, aconite is widely known as the “queen of poisons”. All of the parts of this plant are highly toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and eventually, heart failure. Moreover, the fatal effects can manifest as quickly as a few hours.
Is the lily flower poisonous?
Certain lily species are poisonous to cats, dogs, and humans. Some examples are daylilies and true lilies. For dogs, the symptoms can be mild, but they can still experience some level of stomach upset. However, for cats, the effects can be more serious, manifesting as frequent urination, loss of appetite, and kidney failure.
What is the first aid for plant poisoning?
If you suspect plant poisoning, the first thing you should do is call the Poisons Information Line on 13 11 26. This way, you can get specific advice on what to do before help comes. While you’re waiting for emergency aid, rinse the person’s mouth and affected skin with water and soap. Also, ensure that there is no plant residue left. Unless instructed by a medical professional, you shouldn’t induce vomiting.
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