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.
Southernwood
Artemisia abrotanum L.
Artemisia abrotanum L. (southernwood) is a scented perennial herb with documented medicinal and practical uses, and known low toxicity.
absinthe wormwood
Artemisia absinthium L.
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) is a herbaceous perennial, known as an absinthe ingredient, with various claimed uses and some documented toxicity.
Tilesius Wormwood
Artemisia tilesii Ledeb.
Artemisia tilesii Ledeb. is an aromatic perennial herb with historical traditional and modern cultivation uses.
Big Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata (Nutt.) W.A.Weber
Artemisia tridentata, or big sagebrush, is a common North American steppe evergreen shrub with cultural and medicinal uses.
Mountain Arum
Arum cylindraceum Gasp.
Arum cylindraceum Gasp. is an early-spring poisonous arum species, often confused with Arum maculatum, with historical starch use.
Cuckoo-pint
Arum maculatum L.
Arum maculatum L., also called cuckoo pint, is a poisonous woodland monocot that traps insects for pollination.
Arum orientale M.Bieb.
Arum orientale M.Bieb.
Arum orientale M.Bieb. is a poisonous aroid with insect-trapping flowers that grows in moist partially shaded woodlands.
Western Wild Ginger
Asarum caudatum Lindl.
Asarum caudatum is a North American forest understory herb that spreads via rhizomes, has ginger-scented leaves, and holds potential medicinal uses.
Antelopehorn Milkweed
Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson
Asclepias asperula, commonly antelope horns milkweed, is a toxic perennial that is a key host for monarch caterpillars.
California milkweed
Asclepias californica Greene
Asclepias californica is a California-native perennial milkweed, a key monarch host that supports regional pollinator health.
tropical milkweed
Asclepias curassavica L.
Asclepias curassavica, tropical milkweed, is a milkweed species cultivated for butterflies that disrupts nonnative monarch migrations.
Curtiss's milkweed
Asclepias curtissii A.Gray
Asclepias curtissii, or Curtiss's milkweed, is a toxic Florida deciduous milkweed with bright white summer flowers, tolerant of soil disturbance.
woollypod milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa Benth.
Asclepias eriocarpa is a toxic perennial milkweed native to western North America that supports monarch butterflies.
fewflower milkweed
Asclepias lanceolata Walter
Asclepias lanceolata, or fewflower milkweed, is a North American perennial milkweed that hosts monarch butterfly larvae and has limited edible and medicinal uses.
broadleaf milkweed
Asclepias latifolia (Torr.) Raf.
Asclepias latifolia, or broadleaf milkweed, is a poisonous perennial milkweed native to the southwestern United States.
four-leaved milkweed
Asclepias quadrifolia Jacq.
Asclepias quadrifolia, fourleaf milkweed, is a small perennial woodland milkweed toxic in large doses, rare in cultivation.
horsetail milkweed
Asclepias subverticillata (A.Gray) Vail
Asclepias subverticillata is a toxic North American milkweed with documented traditional uses among the Zuni people.
prairie milkweed
Asclepias sullivantii Engelm. ex A.Gray
Asclepias sullivantii, Sullivant's milkweed, is a threatened perennial prairie plant that hosts monarch caterpillars.
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca L.
Asclepias syriaca is a key milkweed food source for monarch butterflies, cultivated for pollinator habitat and with historical uses.
butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa L.
Asclepias tuberosa L., commonly butterfly weed, is a perennial milkweed with bright flowers, toxic properties, and historic medicinal and food uses.
whorled milkweed
Asclepias verticillata L.
Asclepias verticillata, the whorled milkweed, is a North American native perennial milkweed toxic to livestock and used by Native Americans for medicine.
common pawpaw
Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal
Asimina triloba, or pawpaw, is a temperate North American native small tree grown for its edible large custardy fruit, and used in restoration.
African Asparagus
Asparagus aethiopicus L.
Asparagus aethiopicus, or Sprenger's asparagus, is a perennial ornamental plant that is toxic and invasive outside its South African native range.
wild asparagus
Asparagus officinalis L.
Asparagus officinalis L. is a dioecious herbaceous perennial, cultivated for food, used as a model for studying plant sex chromosomes.
Start Exploring Nature Today
Download iNature for free. 10 identifications on us. No account needed. No credit card required.
Download Free on App Store
