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Poison Plants Native to Ohio

Every naturalist and outdoor enthusiast should be aware of the poison plants in their area. Ohio has no shortage of poison plants, with no less than 200 different species of poisonous and otherwise injurious plants. Before you take out to the woods make sure you know what plants to avoid.

  1. Flowering Spurge

    • The flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata) is a perennial herbaceous plant that may grow as high as 3 feet. The plant has green oblong leaves with white, five-petaled flowers. They grow next to dry, wooded areas in fields. Native Americans used the plant as a treatment for skin infections. It is recommended, however, that you avoid the plant. When eaten, the plant can cause severe vomiting and is toxic in some circumstances. The plant also produces a juice that irritates the skin.

    Spotted Touch-Me-Not

    • The spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis Meerb.) is a plant whose name says it all. It grows in moist, shaded areas with protection. The plant produces orange leaves with red spots. The seed capsules can explode when touched, though some tout the stem's juice provides an antidote for poison ivy. The leaves have an acrid smell and produce a burning sensation when eaten. The plant also produces vomiting when eaten and may be fatal to farm animals.

    Oleander

    • Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a highly toxic plant that originated in the Mediterranean but now grows as a native in Ohio. The plant is tall, over 16 feet in height. There are dark green, spear-shaped leaves along the plant's stalk with red, white and orange blossoms at the top. The blossoms bloom between May and October. The plant is so toxic that ingesting a single leaf could result in death. It is not just the leaves of the plant that are poisonous, however -- you should avoid ingesting any part of oleander.

    Jimson Weed

    • Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) is a plant rife with the belladonna alkaloids tropine and scopolamine. The plant has been used by Native Americans as both an intoxicant and a medicine. Every part of the plant is toxic, and any pleasant effects of ingesting the plant will quickly be overwhelmed by high temperature, blurred vision and dry mouth. The plant may also cause accidentalal poisoning at higher doses. Even at lower doses there is a chance of seizures and cardiac arrest. In 2005, nearly 1,000 cases of poisoning were reported related to Jimson weed consumption. While the plant is legal, few take it for its hallucinatory effects due to the dangers and unpleasant side effects.

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