If you enjoy spending time in your South Carolina garden or hiking its beautiful trails, knowing your local flora is about more than just appreciation. It’s a critical safety skill. There are several poisonous plants in South Carolina – deadly native species that you should be able to identify on sight. This guide will help you recognize them, understand the risks, and learn what to do if exposure happens.
Many of these plants are common and can be found in woodlands, along roadsides, and sometimes even in landscaped areas. Their beauty often belies their danger. Let’s get familiar with the most hazardous ones so you can enjoy the outdoors with confidence and safety.
Poisonous Plants In South Carolina – Deadly Native Species
This list focuses on native plants with the potential to cause serious harm or death. Remember, “native” means they belong here and grow naturally in our ecosystems, which makes encounters more likely.
1. Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
Often called the most violently toxic plant in North America. All parts, especially the roots, contain cicutoxin, which attacks the central nervous system.
- Identification: Grows 3 to 6 feet tall in wet areas like ditches, stream banks, and marshes. Has smooth, hollow stems with purple streaks. Leaves are toothed and lance-shaped. The small white flowers form umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels). The root may smell like parsnip or celery—do not be fooled.
- Danger: Ingestion can lead to violent seizures, stomach pain, vomiting, and potentially death within hours. Even a small amount of the root is lethal.
2. Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
This is South Carolina’s state flower, a beautiful but poisonous vine. Its vibrant yellow trumpet-shaped blooms appear in early spring.
- Identification: An evergreen vine that climbs or forms mounds. It has glossy green leaves and showy, fragrant yellow flowers.
- Danger: All parts are poisonous, containing alkaloids that can affect the nervous system. Honey made from its nectar can also be toxic. Symptoms include muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and lowered body temperature.
3. Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
This is the infamous plant that killed the philosopher Socrates. It’s highly invasive but widespread now, found in open fields, along roads, and in disturbed areas.
- Identification: Grows very tall, up to 8 feet. The smooth stem is hollow and covered in distinctive purple spots or blotches. Leaves are fern-like. Flowers are small, white, and form umbrella clusters. The entire plant, when crushed, emits a foul, musty odor.
- Danger: Contains coniine and other alkaloids that can paralyze the respiratory muscles. Ingestion is often fatal for humans and livestock.
4. Oleander (Nerium oleander)
While not native, it is so widely planted in South Carolina landscapes that it must be included. Every part of this common shrub is deadly.
- Identification: A dense, evergreen shrub with long, leathery, dark green leaves. It produces showy clusters of white, pink, or red flowers throughout warm months.
- Danger: Contains cardiac glycosides. Ingesting a single leaf can be fatal to a human. Even the smoke from burning oleander trimmings is toxic. Never use its sticks for skewering food.
5. Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
This vine is found in the coastal plains and southern counties. Its seeds are stunning but extremely dangerous.
- Identification: A slender, woody vine with compound leaves. It produces pods that split open to reveal hard, glossy seeds. The seeds are brilliant red with a single black spot.
- Danger: The seeds contain abrin, a toxin similar to ricin but far more potent. The seed coat is hard, but if scratched, broken, or chewed, it can be lethal. A single seed, properly ingested, can kill an adult.
6. White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
This plant was responsible for “milk sickness” which killed many early settlers, including Abraham Lincoln’s mother.
- Identification: A perennial growing 3-5 feet tall with opposite, toothed leaves that have a pointed tip. It produces clusters of fluffy, bright white flowers in late summer and fall.
- Danger: Contains tremetol, a toxin that is passed through the milk of cows that eat the plant. Direct ingestion by humans causes tremors, severe intestinal pain, and can be fatal.
What to Do If You Suspect Poisoning
Time is critical. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
- Call for Help Immediately: Dial the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. They provide free, expert guidance 24/7. If the person is unconscious, having seizures, or struggling to breathe, call 911 right away.
- Provide Information: Tell them the name of the plant if you know it. If not, describe it in detail (leaves, flowers, berries, where it was growing). If its safe to do so, take a picture of the plant with your phone.
- Do Not Induce Vomiting unless specifically instructed to by a medical professional. This can sometimes cause more harm.
- Remove Plant Material: Gently wipe out the mouth and remove any remaining pieces of the plant. Rinse the skin with soap and water if there was topical contact.
Safe Gardening and Foraging Practices
You can co-exist safely with these plants by following some simple rules.
- Teach Everyone: Make sure all family members, especially children, know not to put any part of an unknown plant in their mouth. Supervise young children closely outdoors.
- Wear Gloves: Always wear durable gloves when gardening, weeding, or clearing brush. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
- Never Assume: Do not forage for wild mushrooms, berries, or roots unless you are with a true expert. Many edible plants have deadly look-alikes.
- Dispose Safely: When removing toxic plants, wear gloves and long sleeves. Do not compost or burn them (smoke can be toxic). Bag them and dispose with household trash.
- Label Your Plants: Know what’s growing in your own garden. Keep plant tags or create a simple map, especially if you have children or pets.
Common Look-Alikes: Don’t Get Confused
Some poisonous plants resemble harmless or even edible ones. Here’s two key comparisons:
- Water Hemlock vs. Queen Anne’s Lace: Both have white umbel flowers. Water hemlock grows in wet areas, has smooth stems with purple streaks, and toothed leaves. Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot) has a hairy stem, often a single purple flower in the center of the cluster, and a carrot-like smell from its root.
- Poison Hemlock vs. Wild Carrot: Again, check the stem. Poison hemlock has smooth, hairless stems with purple blotches. Wild carrot has a hairy stem. Also, poison hemlock can grow much taller.
Protecting Pets and Livestock
Animals are also at risk from these plants. Dogs may chew on leaves or stems, and livestock can graze on them accidentally.
- Fence off areas where poisonous plants are known to grow.
- Be vigilant on walks, preventing dogs from nibbling on roadside vegetation.
- Learn the signs of plant poisoning in animals: sudden drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors, or seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Ensure your livestock pastures are clear of white snakeroot, water hemlock, and poison hemlock.
FAQ: Poisonous Plants in South Carolina
Q: What is the most deadly plant in SC?
A: Water hemlock is considered the most acutely toxic. However, both poison hemlock and rosary pea are also extremely lethal upon ingestion.
Q: Are there any deadly plants commonly found in yards?
A: Yes. Oleander is frequently planted in landscapes and is highly toxic. Carolina Jessamine, while native, is also common in gardens. Always research before planting.
Q: Can you get poisoned by touching these plants?
A: For most on this list, skin contact may cause irritation (like with poison ivy, which is irritating but not deadly), but the life-threatening danger comes from ingestion. The major exception is if you have open wounds and handle plants like water hemlock, where the toxin could enter your bloodstream.
Q: What does poison hemlock look like in South Carolina?
A: Look for a tall plant (6-8 ft) with smooth, hollow stems marked with distinctive purple spots or blotches. It has fern-like leaves and clusters of small white flowers. It often grows in sunny, disturbed areas.
Q: Is it safe to burn branches from poisonous plants?
A: No. Burning plants like oleander or poison hemlock can release toxic compounds into the smoke. Inhaling this smoke can cause severe lung irritation and systemic poisoning.
Q: Where can I get help identifying a plant?
A: Your local Clemson Cooperative Extension office is an excellent resource. You can also use reputable plant identification apps or field guides specific to the Southeastern US. Always cross-reference multiple sources.
Knowledge is your best defense. By learning to identify these poisonous plants in South Carolina – deadly native species and others – you protect yourself, your family, and your pets. Take the time to look around your property and favorite walking spots. Once you know what to look for, you’ll see these plants with a new understanding, respecting their role in nature while avoiding their hidden dangers. Enjoy South Carolina’s natural beauty safely and smartly.