Is there anything more pleasant than a nice,
crisp apple? It’s the perfect refresher on a hot summer day, goes great in a pie, and
certainly won’t kill you - right? Normally, this is true, but there’s one impostor
apple out there that brings nothing but poison - and an evil witch
has nothing to do with it. What’s up with this deadly impostor apple, and where does it rank among the
deadliest plants in the world? Most plants are harmless, and we rely on
them for the continuation of life on earth. They’re critical for feeding the world,
keeping livestock fed, and keeping the air clean. But plants are living things, and
some have developed defense systems that mean they should be approached with caution. For those
interested in these deadly plants, there is even a poison garden located in the botanical gardens
in Alnwick, England. As you approach, a sign warns all visitors - “Warning! These plants can kill”.
That hasn’t stopped it from becoming the garden’s most popular attraction, where people can marvel
at the world’s deadliest plants - from a distance. So what are the top ten plants you should
be wary of if you see in your backyard? #10. Jimsonweed If there’s a dangerous plant, it would make
sense to try to keep it contained in its original habitat. Ever tried to keep your yard
free of dandelions? That’s easier said than done, and that’s what happened with the North American
invasive weed Jimsonweed. This weed has all the makings of a regular pest - it smells bad,
its roots are deep and hard to pull out, and it can kill you. Well, thankfully that
last part isn’t a problem with regular weeds. Jimsonweed was actually used around the world in
traditional medicine, with its leaves containing the natural painkiller atropine. When smoked in
a pipe or used in small amounts, it can be an effective anesthetic or anti-inflammatory.
Its hallucinogenic properties also made it popular in religious ceremonies. When used in
small, controlled doses, it can be harmless. The problem is, it is very easy to overdose.
The plant is loaded with multiple hallucinogenic compounds, and it is common for recreational users
with no experience to wind up in the hospital. Those affected can wind up with dangerously
high temperatures and heart rates, and highly dilated pupils that can
make it painful to be in lighted areas. The effects on their mind can be
even worse, with many remembering nothing of the period they were affected.
Making it even more dangerous, the toxicity of each plant varies, making each encounter
with jimsonweed a deadly game of roulette. Our next deadly plant is a killer
in a rather unexpected way... #9. Bunya Pine Most of the world’s deadliest plants
are either loaded with poisonous compounds or have toxic defense systems
to prevent themselves from being eaten. But this next plant is a surprising
killer completely by accident. The Bunya pine is located in southeast
Australia and is the last survivor of a breed of plants that dates back to
dinosaur times. It’s tall, sturdy, and produces edible nuts that taste a little
like chestnuts. The trees themselves pose no threat to humans and are a valuable part of the
local ecosystem. So what lands it on this list? The cones. These cones are the size of soccer
balls and can weigh up to forty pounds. Once they land, they become a valuable food
source for local birds who can crack them open. But first, they’ve got to fall from a
tree that can get as tall as ninety feet. You’ve probably had a few bumps on the
head from when a pine cone lands on your head from a local tree. If a Bunya pine cone
landed on your head, it would be game over. You’ve probably had a close encounter with
this next plant on the list as a child... #8. Castor Oil Plant There are a lot of parts to a plant, and sometimes
the danger comes in the smallest part possible. The castor oil plant is a perennial
flowering plant that’s native to India and the Mediterranean and is grown
around the world as an ornamental plant. It’s a useful plant thanks to its
seed, which is the source of castor oil. Any kid who has been fed that oil when
they were sick is undoubtedly having terrible flashbacks right now, but the oil has
medicinal qualities - when processed properly. Unprocessed, it’s a very different story. Not only is the plant highly allergenic and
dangerous to asthma sufferers, but its raw seeds are highly toxic. The culprit? The compound
ricin, which is used in the manufacturing of a deadly chemical weapon. Those who ingest the
poison raw can expect to suffer from nausea, digestive issues, a high heart rate, and
seizures. The most common cause of poisoning is when people or animals eat the unprocessed
seed. To ensure the by-products are safe, castor oil manufacturers extract the
ricin from the seeds before pressing them. The next plant on the list has a
long and deadly history of poison... #7. Water Hemlock When the famous Greek philosopher Socrates angered
the powers that be, he was sentenced to death by drinking the poison Hemlock. Good thing this scary
ancient poison is a thing of the past, right? Wrong. Water Hemlock, the plant it comes from,
is a family of similar plants and can be found in temperate regions of North America and
Europe. The poison that killed Socrates could be lurking in your backyard. This deadly plant has
a high concentration of the neurotoxin cicutoxin in just about every part of it, and
it doesn’t take much to get exposed. People have been poisoned by rubbing the plant on
their skin, blowing into the hollow stem of the flower, or eating small amounts of the leaves.
With water hemlock, any amount is too much. Victims will start having seizures not
long after consumption, followed by nausea, vomiting, and other common signs of poisoning. The
poison then goes to work on the nervous system, causing swelling on the brain and raising the body
temperature. The best way to treat someone with hemlock poisoning quickly is by decontaminating
their digestive tract with activated charcoal, lessening the effect of the poison so they
can recover. But the poison packs a punch, and those who survive hemlock poisoning
often need extensive follow-up treatment and monitoring to repair the damage. The next plant doesn’t kill most of its victims
- but that doesn’t mean it’s not to be feared #6. Gympie Stinger Anyone who has encountered a stinging nettle
knows those nasty plants can leave a painful mark on you. So naturally, leave it to
Australia to take that plant and jack it up to eleven. The Gympie Stinger has
the colorful nickname “Suicide Plant”, and it lives up to its name. This plant native
to Australia and Indonesia covers its leaves with countless hollow needles that embed themselves
under the skin and release a painful neurotoxin. Even lightly brushing the plant will leave you
with hundreds of these needles in your skin, and the initial pain is just the beginning.
It causes agonizing itching that has been known to drive people to irrational, dangerous
behavior. There are so many of these needles that it doesn’t even need to touch you to
do damage - there are reports of people winding up with nosebleeds and rashes just by
breathing next to the plant as it sheds needles. Unlike most plants on this list, the effects
of this plant don’t have a time limit. Once embedded in the skin, they keep releasing
toxins for up to a year. This can cause damage to the joints and long-term swelling. People
have been known to go into shock and even die from severe poisoning. And don’t think
old leaves are safe - dried samples have been found to be just as potent. It’s not a
surprise that there’s a famous story about an Australian soldier who killed himself
after using the leaves for toilet paper. It may just be an old army tale, but anyone
near the Gympie Stinger isn’t forgetting it. Next up, this plant is a thing
of beauty - and of death. #5. Oleander Ah, Oleander. This beautiful pink flower
is a staple of gardens around the world. It’s been so widely cultivated that no one
is sure where it’s native to. It’s elegant, attractive - and deadly. While it makes a
great decoration, anyone who ingests it is in for a very bad time. The good news is, it’s
intensely bitter. This is a plant that doesn’t want to be eaten, and it’s good at its job.
Humans rarely get poisoned by eating oleander, but even handling it for too long
can cause skin and eye inflammation. So who is oleander most dangerous
to? Our furry friends. This plant is a common culprit in pet poisonings,
with dogs being especially sensitive. Ingesting too much of the compounds in
oleander can affect the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, and even the nervous system. The
first signs will usually be nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but more severe poisonings can
cause irregular heart rate and poor circulation. To save a poisoning victim, the best way is
to induce vomiting as quickly as possible. Oleander isn’t responsible for the most
poisonings on the list thanks to its foul taste, but it has a reputation as a
plant associated with suicides. Its biggest threat is just how common it is and
how easy it is to mistake it for other plants. There have even been poisonings from people using
oleander branches for cooking sticks or for fires. That hasn’t stopped it from being planted
all around the world. It helps to be pretty. How far would you go for some beautiful jewelry? Those who work with this next
plant are ready to tempt death. #4. Rosary Pea In fact, some of the prettiest plants
in the world are also the deadliest. The rosary pea, a small bean native to Asia
and Australia, has a striking red color that also serves as a warning - because this
little berry packs a big poison punch. Its toxin works very similarly to ricin but
is more than twice as toxic. It’s very easy to ingest a fatal dose of this poison - but the
good news is that the poison is contained inside the hard seeds. That means that people who eat
a berry but don’t crack the seed may be fine. Despite its deadly nature, the rosary pea is
actually used widely in its geographic area. It’s used in traditional medicine, with the
seed being boiled to eliminate the poison. Rumored to boost hair growth, it’s sometimes
incorporated into Indian hair products. Because its seeds are identical, it can be used
as a unit of measure. But its most popular use may be in jewelry due to its bright color.
This use may actually be the most dangerous. How can making jewelry be deadly? Because
the seeds need to be pierced to string them for jewelry, there’s always the risk of
someone piercing the seed and releasing the poison - only to then stick themselves with
the needle. Has any unfortunate jewelry-maker met their end on a tainted needle? No one is
sure, but rumors persist about the dangers. This next plant could be in your backyard
- but don’t try to pull it like a weed. #3. Giant Hogweed Many of these deadly plants are unassuming and
can easily hide in a yard. The Giant Hogweed, though, is going to make itself known. This
invasive weed is tall, quick to spread, and very hard to remove. It started out
in the Caucasus region and was brought to Britain because of its impressive
appearance. It spread like wildfire from there and is now all around Europe and the
United States. And where it goes, pain follows. Giant Hogweed has a powerful
defense system in its sap, causing a painful skin condition that
results in extreme sensitivity to light. Even normal exposure to the sun can cause
painful blisters, burns, and permanent scarring. Making it even more dangerous, Giant
Hogweed looks like the common garden plant Queen Anne’s lace and appears to be harmless
- but even casual contact can result in burns lasting days. It’s unlikely to cause permanent
damage - unless the sap gets near the eyes. This plant is such a common public health hazard
that it’s been classified as a noxious weed that should be removed when found. Many people hire
professionals to get rid of Giant Hogweed plants, but if you’re planning to do
battle with this menacing weed, it’s recommended that you wear goggles
and gloves for maximum protection. You’re probably familiar with this next plant -
but don’t be fooled by its delicious appearance. #2. Deadly Nightshade Who doesn’t like tomatoes and eggplant, right? These popular dinner table staples
have an unwelcome relative, just like that cousin who always wants to borrow
money - except that deadly nightshade is bringing death, not an awkward family dinner. Spreading
across Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, it’s since spread to the United States where it
can be found just about everywhere. Also known as belladonna, its berries are so toxic that it’s
famous as a poison dating back to ancient Rome. A standard-looking flowering shrub, it’s known
for its distinct black berries which look a little like oval blueberries. Making them
even more dangerous, these berries are sweet and are designed to be eaten by animals. They’ll
ingest the seeds whole and spread them in their droppings, leaving them intact and safe. The
danger comes when they’re eaten by a human who would be more likely to chew - and
unleash the toxins hidden in the seeds. Deadly nightshade is one of the
most toxic plants in the world, and all parts of the plant are
loaders with a host of toxins that can cause conditions including
nervous system damage and hallucinations. Despite this, it’s used in cosmetics, dietary
supplements, and alternative medicines - and is also popular as a hallucinogenic drug,
for those willing to take the risk. So what’s the tree that overshadows
all these deadly plants? Get ready to meet...the Death Apple. #1. The Death Apple Deadly nightshade may be sweet and inviting,
but it doesn’t work as hard to fool you as the final plant on this list. The Death Apple,
or Manchineel, looks almost exactly like an apple tree from the leaves to the fruit. It’s
also one of the most toxic trees in the world, with every part of the plant filled with milky,
toxic sap that can cause extreme skin ailments. Not only can touching the leaves or fruit
cause serious skin irritation or blisters, but the poison is so strong that you don’t
even need to be touching it. If the tree burns, the smoke is toxic enough to cause eye
damage. If someone takes refuge under the tree while it’s raining, the water
will mix with the sap and burn them. So what would happen if someone ate it? It must be pretty hard to find out, given
that soon after taking the first bite, that unlucky person would be experiencing
extreme burning and blistering on the inside of their mouth and throat. No
one’s gotten far enough to swallow it, but if the fruit got into the digestive
tract, it would likely be fatal. Despite this, the tree is still used as a
source of wood after being carefully cut and dried to remove the sap. Mostly found in the
Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America, it’s made inroads into the United States
in Florida. You’d think they’d remove the Death Apple as soon as they found it,
right? Not quite - it’s classified as an endangered species. I’d look carefully
before making your next apple pie. For more on how humanity and plants
interact, check out “How Long Can You Survive If All the Plants in the World
Die?” or check out this video instead.
