by Stacy Tornio
Level of Toxicity 2
Toxic Parts Leaves, stems
BE AWARE
Like the potato, tomatoes also have the glycoalkaloid chemical. This can cause nervousness, upset stomach, or even be more serious in large quantities.
GREEN THUMB TIP
Tomatoes are one of those plants that a lot of gardeners like to start by seed indoors. Here’s the biggest tip—don’t start your seeds too soon. This way, they won’t become “leggy” and die off before you get a chance to transplant them!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Grow tomatoes. They are delicious, relatively easy to grow, and there are so many awesome varieties to choose from.
CHERRIES
POISONOUS PROFILE
There’s something romantic about having a cherry tree in your backyard. Imagine going outside in the summer and plucking off a few pieces of fruit to eat right there. So how in the world can cherries be poisonous? Is this something you need to worry about? The short answer? Not really. If you’re looking for a fruit tree for your backyard, it’s still a good candidate. Plus, the blooms in spring are gorgeous!
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Cherry
Botanical Name Prunus avium or Prunus cerasus cultivars
Height most backyard trees are up to 15 feet
Spread up to 15 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade
Level of Toxicity 2
Toxic Parts The seeds or pits of cherries contain a substance called cyanogenic glycosides, which can act as a form of cyanide.
BE AWARE
If you accidentally swallow a cherry seed, you likely won’t have to worry because it wouldn’t be enough to do much harm. However, if you consumed a lot or if you chewed the seeds, thus releasing the substance, it could be pretty dangerous.
THE BOTTOM LINE
They are fine to grow and even eat, but make sure you and your children don’t swallow the seeds.
KIDNEY BEANS
POISONOUS PROFILE
The kidney bean, a common food in chili and salad, got its name from its shape. It looks a lot like a human kidney! Like most beans, kidney beans are relatively easy to grow in the garden because you can grow straight from seed. For the most part, kidney beans aren’t a problem, but they can be toxic in raw form, so it’s important to know the basics before growing or eating them.
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Kidney bean, red kidney bean
Botanical Name Phaseolus vulgaris
Height plants are up to 4 feet
Spread up to 4 feet
Light Needs Full sun
Level of Toxicity 1
Toxic Parts The beans
BE AWARE
Raw kidney beans contain a substance called phytohemagglutinin. If you don’t soak these beans first, you could see signs of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other beans also contain this substance, but it’s much higher in the red kidney bean. Cooked or canned beans are fine.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Like most beans, this one is a good option to grow.
MUSHROOMS
POISONOUS PROFILE
Do not eat a mushroom in the wild unless you know 100 percent and without a doubt that it’s not poisonous. This cannot be stated enough. There have been too many accidents out there of people hunting for mushrooms out in the wild misidentifying them. This can cause serious harm, or even death, so you have to be careful. One of the most serious mushrooms you want to avoid is called death cap, which is the botanical name listed below. If you are interested in mushrooms and learning which ones are okay, consult an expert or a book on this specific topic.
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Mushroom
Botanical Name Amanita phalloides
Height up to 6 inches
Spread up to 6 inches
Light Needs Full sun to full shade
Level of Toxicity 3
Toxic Parts All parts
BE AWARE
Depending on the mushroom, you might see symptoms of just nausea, or you might see more serious symptoms like hallucinating, vomiting, and more.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Avoid wild mushrooms unless you really know what you’re doing. It’s too risky for those who don’t or who are unsure.
ACKEE
POISONOUS PROFILE
The ackee tree is native to west Africa, but a lot of people now identify it with Jamaica, which is probably one of the few places you’d actually come across it, too. The ackee fruit is actually the national fruit of Jamaica. The large red, apple-like fruit looks unique. When it’s allowed to ripen on its own, it will split, revealing the fruit inside, along with black seeds. However, if it doesn’t ripen on its own, the results can be deadly.
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Ackee, akee
Botanical Name Blighia sapida
Height tree grows up to 30 feet
Spread up to 20 feet
Light Needs Sun to part shade
Level of Toxicity 3
Toxic Parts Many parts of the fruit, but especially the black seed
BE AWARE
If you attempt to eat the fruit of this plant when it’s not ripe, you will definitely become ill! It can lead to vomiting, coma, or even death in extreme cases. There’s something in Jamaica called “Jamaican vomiting sickness,” and this fruit is the reason.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Only eat it if you know it’s safe—when it’s ripe.
CASHEWS
POISONOUS PROFILE
The cashew is a fascinating tree. Native to Brazil and common in tropical areas, it actually produces fruit that look a lot like pears or apples. Then the cashew, which is actually the fruit’s seed, comes out of the bottom! So you could say the cashew isn’t even a nut at all. It’s really just the seed of a fruit! The cashew itself isn’t usually deadly, but it can be harmful in its raw form.
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Cashew tree
Botanical Name Anacardium occidentale
Height most trees reach about 20 feet
Spread up to 15 feet
Light Needs Full sun
Level of Toxicity 1
Toxic Parts The fruit and its seed (a.k.a the cashew) both contain urushiol, which is the same chemical in poison ivy.
BE AWARE
If you come into contact with raw cashews or the fruit of a cashew tree, you could see irritation, much like you would with poison ivy. If you consume either raw, you might experience vomiting, nausea, and sickness.
THE BOTTOM LINE
You probably won’t ever come into contact with a cashew tree or raw cashews because these grow in tropical regions. But if you do, it’s best to avoid them!
SQUIRTING CUCUMBERS
POISONOUS PROFILE
This little perennial is definitely unique. The fruit on it looks like a fuzzy little cucumber, and when it’s ripe, it will actually squirt out some liquid…. Some people say it’s like a little explosion. It might seem fun to have this one growing in your backyard, but just say no. In areas where it’s native, it’s actually considered a weed, so you don’t really want to get it started.
DEADLY STATS
Common Name Squirting cucumber
Botanical Name Ecballium elaterium
Height up to 3 feet
Spread up to 1 foot
Light Needs Full sun
Level of Toxicity 2
Toxic Parts All parts
BE AWARE
The side effects of ingesting the squirting cucumber can include diarrhea, kidney problems, or it can even be lethal in large amounts.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While it’s not a very common perennial, some people like it just because it’s unique and different. So if you come across it, it’s best to avoid.
RESOURCES
Here are some of our favorite books, websites, and organizations when it comes to poisonous plants and learning more about the great world of gardening.
Poison
Control
Poison.org
ASPCA’s Poisonous Plants List
Aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Kill Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities
By Amy Stewart
National Gardening Association
Garden.org
National Garden Bureau
Ngb.org
Cornell University’s Home Gardening
Gardening.cornell.edu
Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plant Finder
Missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© Tina Gregory
Stacy Tornio has been a gardener her entire life. She used to love and admire the flowers that both of her grandmothers grew in their gardens. She also remembers the words of warning her grandmothers and parents would give about eating wild berries or plants. Stacy is the former editor of the national gardening magazine Birds & Blooms. She’s also been a master gardener and a master naturalist and enjoys writing about gardening and plants for national websites and publications. She believes plants are fascinating—they can feed, heal, and, in some cases, even cause harm. But with a little education, they can be absolutely powerful.
You can learn more about Stacy or find her additional books on her website, destinationnature.com.
