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.
wild cherry
Prunus avium (L.) L.
Prunus avium, the wild cherry, is a deciduous tree native to Eurasia and North Africa, widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
Carolina laurelcherry
Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Aiton
Prunus caroliniana is a small to medium evergreen tree native to the US Atlantic region, toxic to some animals and used ornamentally.
hollyleaf cherry
Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D.Dietr.
Prunus ilicifolia, or hollyleaf cherry, is an evergreen shrub/tree native to chaparral areas of California and northern Baja California with edible fruit after preparation.
Cherry laurel
Prunus laurocerasus L.
Prunus laurocerasus is a toxic evergreen ornamental tree or shrub widely grown in temperate gardens.
Portuguese laurel
Prunus lusitanica L.
Prunus lusitanica is an evergreen tree/shrub grown ornamentally, native to western Mediterranean and Macaronesia.
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima Marshall
Prunus maritima, the beach plum, is an edible North American coastal shrub grown commercially for its fruit.
bird cherry
Prunus padus L.
Prunus padus L. (bird cherry) is a Eurasian tree with two varieties that has edible cooked fruit and toxic foliage and stems.
Whitestem Paperflower
Psilostrophe cooperi (A.Gray) Greene
Psilostrophe cooperi is a low perennial shrub with yellow daisy-like flower heads, native to dry areas. Related species are poisonous to livestock.
Hairy Psychotria
Psychotria loniceroides Sieber ex DC.
Psychotria loniceroides is an Australian shrub with edible ripe fruits that may irritate the human throat.
common bracken
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn
Pteridium aquilinum, common bracken, is a widespread toxic perennial fern with a history of human consumption and traditional use.
Pink Mulla Mulla
Ptilotus exaltatus Nees
Ptilotus exaltatus (pink mulla mulla) is an Australian native herb popular in horticulture and a phosphorus hyperaccumulator.
Haller's pasqueflower
Pulsatilla halleri (All.) Willd.
Pulsatilla halleri, Haller's anemone, is an alpine herbaceous perennial garden plant in the buttercup family native to Europe.
prairie pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana (DC.) Spreng.
Pulsatilla nuttalliana is an early-blooming North American herbaceous perennial native to open, often northern habitats.
Meadow Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill.
Pulsatilla pratensis is a toxic herbaceous perennial, with silvery haired leaves and bell-shaped spring flowers, pollinated by bees.
Oregon oak
Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hook.
Quercus garryana (Oregon white oak) is a western North American native oak, used for woodworking and aging wine and whiskey.
silverleaf oak
Quercus hypoleucoides A.Camus
Quercus hypoleucoides is an oak often shrubby, sometimes tree-sized, grown ornamentally for its distinctive contrasting leaves.
chinkapin oak
Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm.
Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm. (chinquapin oak) is a North American white oak with sweet acorns and durable construction wood.
post oak
Quercus stellata Wangenh.
Quercus stellata, or post oak, is a small North American oak adapted to dry sites, used in forestry and for barbecue wood.
soapbark tree
Quillaja saponaria Molina
Quillaja saponaria, the soap bark tree, is a Chilean evergreen widely used for commercial saponins including vaccine adjuvants.
small-flowered buttercup
Ranunculus abortivus L.
Ranunculus abortivus L. is a small buttercup with a range of traditional Native American uses.
meadow buttercup
Ranunculus acris L.
Ranunculus acris L. is a herbaceous perennial buttercup with toxic properties, native to Eurasia and naturalized worldwide, with traditional Native American uses.
bulbous buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus L.
Ranunculus bulbosus L. (bulbous buttercup) is a toxic flowering buttercup native to Western Europe and introduced to North America.
Lesser Spearwort
Ranunculus flammula L.
Ranunculus flammula (lesser spearwort) is a poisonous perennial herb in the buttercup family that grows in damp boreal habitats.
sagebrush buttercup
Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook.
Ranunculus glaberrimus is a small early-flowering toxic buttercup native to western North America.
Start Exploring Nature Today
Download iNature for free. 10 identifications on us. No account needed. No credit card required.
Download Free on App Store
