Many South Carolina yards harbor beautiful trees that hide a dangerous secret – they’re toxic to humans and pets. These harmful plants can cause everything from skin irritation to serious illness if touched or ingested.
Knowing which toxic trees might be growing in your yard could prevent a trip to the emergency room.
1. Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Every part of this stunning, trumpet-flowered tree contains deadly alkaloids that can cause hallucinations, paralysis, and even death. Just handling the leaves might trigger skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
In warm regions such as South Carolina, children are particularly vulnerable, since the plant’s large, fragrant flowers can be especially enticing despite their hidden dangers. Despite its risks, Angel’s Trumpet continues to be planted for its spectacular blooms and evening fragrance.
2. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Lurking beneath the soil around Black Walnut trees is juglone, a natural chemical that’s toxic to many plants and some animals. While the nuts are edible for humans, the tree’s roots, hulls, and leaves release compounds that can sicken horses and inhibit growth of nearby plants.
Gardeners often discover this tree’s toxic nature when nothing grows successfully beneath its sprawling canopy.
3. Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)
With clusters of lilac-colored flowers and golden berries, Chinaberry trees entice both children and pets with their attractive fruit. The berries contain neurotoxins that attack the nervous system when ingested. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, difficulty breathing, and seizures.
Once popular as ornamental shade trees throughout South Carolina and the broader South, many homeowners are now removing these invaders due to their toxic properties and invasive nature.
4. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Surprising to many homeowners, Red Maple leaves can be deadly – not to humans, but to horses. When wilted or dried leaves are consumed by equines, they cause destruction of red blood cells, leading to difficulty breathing and potential death.
The vibrant fall foliage makes this native tree popular in landscaping. Horse owners should be particularly cautious about fallen leaves blowing into pastures during autumn months.
5. Yew (Taxus species)
Nearly every part of the yew contains taxine alkaloids – deadly compounds that can stop a heart within hours of ingestion. The bright red berries (actually modified cones) might tempt children, though the seed inside is the most toxic part.
Landscapers favor yews for their deep green needles and ability to withstand heavy pruning. Despite their beauty, having them in yards with small children or pets poses significant risks.
6. Cherry Trees (Prunus species)
Wild and ornamental cherry trees harbor a dark secret in their wilted leaves and broken branches. These parts contain cyanide-producing compounds that can be fatal to livestock and pets when consumed. In regions such as South Carolina, fallen branches after storms become particularly dangerous as the wilting process releases more toxins.
The fruit pits also contain these compounds, though the flesh of cultivated cherries is safe for human consumption.
7. Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum anagyroides)
Draped with cascades of yellow flowers in spring, the Golden Chain tree creates a spectacular show that masks its sinister nature. All parts contain cytisine, a nicotine-like alkaloid that causes intense vomiting, convulsions, and potentially coma.
Children might be drawn to the bean-like seed pods that appear after flowering. Just a few seeds can cause serious poisoning, making this ornamental tree a hidden hazard in landscaped yards.
8. Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Don’t let the name fool you – Horse Chestnuts aren’t related to edible chestnuts and contain dangerous saponins. The shiny brown nuts, encased in spiky green husks, might look tempting but cause severe gastrointestinal distress if eaten.
Children sometimes collect the smooth, mahogany-colored nuts for games. The tree’s impressive canopy and palm-shaped leaves make it a stately addition to many South Carolina properties, despite its toxic attributes.
9. Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Though technically a large shrub that can reach tree proportions, oleander deserves special mention as one of the most toxic plants in South Carolina landscapes. Every part contains cardiac glycosides so potent that ingesting even a small amount can be fatal.
Despite its deadly nature, oleander’s drought tolerance and showy pink, white, or red flowers make it popular in Southern gardens. Even burning oleander releases toxic smoke that can cause respiratory problems.
10. Chinese Tallow Tree (Triadica sebifera)
Known for its spectacular fall colors, the Chinese Tallow Tree produces white, waxy berries that contain toxins harmful to humans and livestock. The milky sap can cause skin irritation and eye damage upon contact.
Birds spread these trees by eating and dispersing the seeds, making them invasive throughout South Carolina. Their rapid growth and attractive fall foliage led many homeowners to plant them before their toxic nature and invasive tendencies became widely known.