There’s A Deadly Plant Growing In Tennessee Yards That Looks Like A Harmless Weed
By Chris Dodge|Published August 01, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
I always encourage others to stop and smell the roses, admiring the flowers or slowing down enough to witness the simple beauty all around you. This mindful practice is a great way to really savor and enjoy the great outdoors. We live in a gorgeous world, after all, filled with wonder and amazement — but with the wild also comes danger. Before you head out into the wilds of the Volunteer State, you’ll want to arm yourself with knowledge about one of the deadliest plants in Tennessee: poison hemlock.
Editor’s Note: Poison hemlock looks a lot like Queen Anne’s Lace, which is a harmless plant.
Just take a look at these beautiful bright white flowers -- you can almost imagine them swaying in a gentle summer breeze. But this plant should be avoided at all costs because even the slightest touch of these flowers can send you to an early grave. It is odd to think that something so calm and unassuming could be so dangerous.
Poison hemlock is the name of this plant, but it can also go by poison parsley, spotted hemlock, Nebraska fern, California Fern, European hemlock, or deadly hemlock. This plant is an invasive species that originally had its roots in Europe and Northern Africa. Poison hemlock is here to stay, however, and this plant is certainly one of the deadliest plants in Tennessee.
You can typically find it in patches of fields, along the roadside, in drainage ditches, and along streams. You will know you have found it by the formation of white flowers and it also gives off a distinctive odor. Left untreated, these plants can even grow up to nine feet tall.
Digesting just a handful of leaves could kill a person in around two hours' time, but also touching can be very harmful. If your skin comes into contact with poison hemlock it can get into your bloodstream causing a whole host of problems. Common effects of the toxicity include lethargy, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and face swelling.
If you happen to see the plant on your property, do not burn or mow over them, as even the fumes from these plants can be dangerous.
The best thing to do is to wear protective gear like gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and anything else to cover exposed skin. While pulling the plant make sure to get the whole root and then discard it with other lawn waste.
So now you know: the next time you see a pretty white flower, please think twice about picking it. Make sure what you are seeing is not poison hemlock.
Armed with information, don't let the dangers of the natural world prevent you from adventuring and seeing more of our beautiful state.
It’s good to know about the deadliest plants in Tennessee and how to avoid them. Stay safe out there as you explore and see all there is to see in our wonderful state. If you are looking for a truly amazing trail, then check out this section of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee for some of the best scenery on the whole entire trail.
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