Poisonous & Toxic Species
Never touch, taste, or consume any species you cannot positively identify. This guide is for educational purposes only. When in doubt, consult a local expert. Use the iNature app for quick AI-powered identification in the field.
Alpine Sweet-vetch
Hedysarum alpinum L.
Hedysarum alpinum L. (alpine sweetvetch) is a perennial northern herb eaten by wildlife and traditionally used for food by Alaska Natives.
Boreal Sweet-vetch
Hedysarum boreale Nutt.
Hedysarum boreale Nutt. is a variable North American perennial legume with multiple common names and various practical uses.
Bitterweed
Helenium amarum (Raf.) H.Rock
Helenium amarum is an annual daisy-family herb, native to the US south-central and northern Mexico, toxic to mammals and insects.
common sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale L.
Helenium autumnale L., common sneezeweed, is an autumn-flowering perennial herb native to much of the US and Canada.
Licorice plant
Helichrysum petiolare Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
Helichrysum petiolare (impepho) is an Asteraceae subshrub native to southern Africa, widely used in traditional medicine and rituals.
fragrant heliotrope
Heliotropium amplexicaule Vahl
Heliotropium amplexicaule, a poisonous toxic heliotrope native to South America, is a noxious weed in Australia that is targeted for biological control.
European heliotrope
Heliotropium europaeum L.
Heliotropium europaeum is a poisonous annual herb native to Eurasia and North Africa, naturalized widely as a roadside weed.
Indian Heliotrope
Heliotropium indicum L.
Heliotropium indicum L. (Indian heliotrope) is an annual Asian weed with toxic alkaloids that is used in traditional medicine.
Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus L.
Helleborus foetidus, or stinking hellebore, is an evergreen poisonous perennial with drooping spring flowers, known for nectar yeast raising flower temperature.
Christmas-rose
Helleborus niger L.
Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) is an evergreen toxic alpine plant with a history of folklore and early medicinal use.
Lenten-rose
Helleborus orientalis Lam.
Helleborus orientalis Lam., the poisonous Lenten rose, is an evergreen perennial popular in shaded cultivation with varied flower colors.
Green Hellebore
Helleborus viridis L.
Helleborus viridis (green hellebore) is a toxic semi-evergreen perennial flowering plant native to Central and Western Europe.
orange day-lily
Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L.
Hemerocallis fulva, the orange daylily, is a popular edible ornamental with toxicity to cats, sometimes invasive in North America.
Miniature umbrella tree
Heptapleurum arboricola Hayata
Heptapleurum arboricola is an evergreen shrub native to Taiwan, widely grown as a tolerant houseplant and mild-climate landscape plant.
common cowparsnip
Heracleum maximum W.Bartram
Heracleum maximum, or cow parsnip, is a tall North American perennial herb with documented toxicity and traditional Indigenous uses.
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Lindl.) M.Roem.
Heteromeles arbutifolia, commonly called toyon, is a California-native evergreen shrub with edible red pomes and ornamental uses.
Star of Bethlehem
Hippobroma longiflora (L.) G.Don
Hippobroma longiflora is a toxic flowering Campanulaceae species endemic to Jamaica, containing psychoactive alkaloids lobeline and nicotine.
Foxtail Barley
Hordeum jubatum L.
Hordeum jubatum, or foxtail barley, is a perennial Poaceae species that is cultivated ornamentally and has various recorded Native North American uses.
common hops
Humulus lupulus L.
Humulus lupulus L., common hop, is a perennial dioecious climbing plant whose female strobili are known as hops.
northern firmoss
Huperzia selago (L.) Bernh.
Huperzia selago is a toxic circumpolar clubmoss with traditional uses in multiple indigenous medical practices.
Sandbox Tree
Hura crepitans L.
Hura crepitans (sandbox tree) is a toxic tropical tree famous for its exploding seed pods.
bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the common bluebell, is a bulbous perennial native to western Atlantic Europe, with a history of human uses and noted toxicity.
Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis L.
Hyacinthus orientalis L. is a widely cultivated fragrant bulbous ornamental spring-flowering toxic plant native to the Mediterranean.
Sibthorp's Pennywort
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a small flowering plant widely used in traditional medicine across multiple regions.
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