Wicked Plants Exhibit at Vander Veer Botanic Garden

This spider has woven a welcome to the Wicked Plants exhibit!

The leaves of the Rubber Tree, native to the Amazon jungle, produce the sticky latex used in pencil erasers and tires. But in the wild, its ripe fruits explode with a loud crack, sending cyanide laden seeds several yards in every direction. Watch out!

Oleander is popular in gardens, prized for its red, pink, yellow, or white blossoms. But this highly toxic shrub contains oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside that brings on nausea and vomiting, severe weakness, irregular pulse, and a decreased heart rate that leads quickly to death.

Chrysanthemums are very popular in gardens, and their blossoms have been used in teas and for medicinal purposes. But, the plants can cause a severe allergic reaction. Some people may develop skin rashes, swollen eyes, and other symptoms.

So consider yourself warned, and now, go warn others!