Five Household Plants That Can Kill You
Fri, Mar 28, 2008
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Image from mai la canaille on Flickr, at the Hanoi Theatre
My family has been in landscaping for five generations now, and I’ve been doing it for ten. I’m 22. You do the math. Given all of that, I kind of had to make my own fun with it– and so here’s five plants you probably own that can totally kill you.
First up, Daffodils. This sun-loving bulb, seen largely as a sign of spring approaching, actually contains a toxin–lycorine– that will totally lay you out, for good. Keep your kids and dogs away.
Imposing, aren’t they? From L.o.T.L. on Flickr
Then there’s the ferocious rhododendron–where I’m from, everybody has these in their yard, because they do good with shade, like damp places, and they’re cheap. Oh, and they can kill you– the Delaware tribe of Native Americans used a tea made with the leaves of this blueberry cousin to commit suicide.
Image from Larpoon of Flickr
Next, there’s the amaryllis– affectionately called the naked lady, for reasons I’ll never understand–which is always popular because it possesses the ability to bloom indoors during the winter. I don’t know that anybody will ever make tea out of it, but this South African beauty is, like the daffodil, loaded with lycorine.
Image from Ilikethenight on Flickr
My mind’s wandering to trees now, as you prepare to tear out your flower gardens, and sol let me name two that you probably shouldn’t bother installing in the place of little gems above: Locusts and Apple trees. I’ll start with the Locust.
Image from Wouter Hagens
To be specific, I’m talking about the Black Locust, and the seed pods on it– they’re rife with a protein called robin, and it’ll murder you dead. Ok, maybe not unless you eat a lot of them, but still. Locusts are popular because they grow in bad soil, thanks to adapting bacteria to produce nitrogen for them. They’re native all long the U.S. east coast, as far north as Philadelphia.
Image from dujarandille on Flickr
Who knew Johnny Appleseed was a terrorist? Traveling the countryside, dropping apple seeds evrywhere he went, the man was carrying a bag full of deadly poison, and doubtless wreaked havoc on small animals that dared scoop up the treats. Apple seeds–the toxic part of the tree–aren’t deadly to humans because they contain small doses, but I wouldn’t make a habit out of it, as they contain cyanide.
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PermaKent Permaculture Ideas of J. Kent Hastings » Blog Archive » Poisonous Plants or Parts Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 6:32 pm[...] links to an Environmental Graffitit humor piece about toxic plants titled “Five Household Plants That Can Kill You.” Some [...]
March 30th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
The title is misleading. Only one of these is a household plant. There are plenty of toxic household plants, and in fact, there are plenty of landscaping plants that are more toxic than apple seeds.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Although I completely appreciate the novelty of your bit. Please give a better explanation as to exactly how one might go about dying from these things. People are going to be hacking away on the rhododendrans and digging up daffodils with hazmat suits in absolute terror of poison locorish!!!!
March 30th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Article started off good, interesting even. Then turned to total fluff. Yah, apple seeds do contain cyanide.. if you eat cups of just seeds, it could kill you.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Never mind the commenters above. I liked your article and found it interesting. I’ve got the brownest thumb EVER and cultivate anything by accident only. Sad, but true.
March 30th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
It was an interesting article, but I did find it a bit misleading. Several of your “deadly” plants would require large doses to kill you, and there are plenty that are more deadly…
March 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
This was a very interesting article, which taught me a lot. Thanks!
March 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I was a little surprised not to see Oleander on the list. In California it is all over the place- down freeways and lining driveways. I have always been cautioned that even a small part of a leaf can kill.
March 30th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Know what else can kill you if you do a lot of it besides the deadly apple seed?
Smoking.
Now that’s two bad habits I’ve got to quit.
March 30th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
“My family has been in landscaping for five generations now, and I’ve been doing it for ten. I’m 22. You do the math”
You started landscaping 228 years before you were born? (assuming a 25 year generation).
Good article, just had to point that out as it struck me as funny.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
“My family has been in landscaping for five generations now, and I’ve been doing it for ten.”
I don’t think so, O Old One.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:59 am
black locusts grow farther north than Philly. i have one in my back yard in Boston.
March 14th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Amaryllis are called “naked ladies” because the flowers appear before the leaves: the plants are “naked” of foliage. Adding “ladies” shows you that gardeners have dirty minds. Also, florist Amaryllis, the kind generally sold as gifts and in your photo, are actually in the genus Hippeastrum. Amaryllis is a different genus, though the plants are similar. Species Hippeastrum are native to South America, while Amaryllis are from South Africa.
Also interesting to note that the REAL reason Johnny Appleseed was such a legend for carrying apple seeds from place to place, is because the apples that grew from his trees were used to make hard cider–yes, booze!
April 29th, 2009 at 5:04 am
I liked your article, i learned something from it. good job.