With summer now well and truly here, you're probably spending more time in your backyard or garden than you would through the rest of the year. The warmer weather also means that new plants and flowers are blooming, and all of that extra color is always welcome, right? But did you know that some plants aren't as safe as they might look? In fact, you might be surprised just how many common plants and flowers could be dangerous to you, your family and even your pets. In this article, we enlist the experts to help us explore some common toxic plants and flowers that often go unnoticed in your backyard
How to spot poisonous flowers
Spotting poisonous flowers can be tricky since toxic plants are often visually appealing. However, certain characteristics can help you identify them. For example, bright colors, distinct smells or specific shapes of flowers.
"Find out what poisonous plants are likely to occur in your region through reliable resources such as your state department of environmental conservation or local cooperative extension office. Learn the key features of those plants so you can recognize them," says Emily Detrick, director of horticulture at the Cornell Botanic Gardens.
"When gardening or recreating in an area with unfamiliar plants, we recommend using a plant ID app such as PlantSnap or PictureThis in combination with a field guide for your region. This is a great way to not only verify if a plant may be one to avoid but also to learn about and appreciate the many beneficial plants you are likely to encounter," she says.
10 poisonous backyard flowers to watch out for
Water hemlock
Olya Solodenko/Getty Images
Water hemlock is one of the most poisonous plants in North America. The plant has small white flowers that grow in umbrella-like clusters, making it easy to confuse with other wildflowers. The plant contains a toxic substance, cicutoxin, which is a poisonous, unsaturated alcohol with a carrot-like smell. It is mainly concentrated in the tubers (roots) but can also be found in the stems and leaves during early growth. Water hemlock grows primarily in wet meadows, pastures and along the banks of rivers.
Cicutoxin is a serious convulsant, which means it can cause severe seizures and even death. Touching water hemlock can cause irritations, so you have to be careful if you get near the plant. You should immediately contact a poison control center or nearby emergency department if you or someone else has unknowingly come in contact with the plant or your child or pet has eaten it. Symptoms of poisoning, such as rapid breathing, high heart rate or dilation of pupils, often start quickly, and death may occur as early as two to three hours after the onset of symptoms, suggesting prompt action is crucial.
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