Mississippi gardens bloom with beauty, but danger lurks among the leaves. Some trees contain toxins that can harm people, pets, and livestock when touched or eaten.
Learning to identify these toxic trees is essential for keeping your family safe while enjoying your outdoor space.
1. Black Walnut Trees: The Silent Garden Killer
Black walnut trees produce a chemical called juglone that’s toxic to many plants. The poison spreads through roots and fallen leaves, creating a ‘dead zone’ where few plants survive.
Most vegetable gardens suffer near these trees, with tomatoes being especially vulnerable. Even after cutting down a black walnut, the roots continue releasing juglone for years.
Keep garden beds at least 50 feet away from these trees to avoid disappointing harvests.
2. Poison Sumac: Woodland Menace
Often mistaken for harmless sumac varieties, poison sumac packs a powerful punch. The sap contains urushiol, the same irritant found in poison ivy, causing painful blisters and rashes that can last for weeks.
Look for cream-colored berries and stems with 7-13 leaflets arranged in pairs. Unlike its harmless cousins with red berries, poison sumac prefers swampy areas common in Mississippi’s lowlands.
Never burn these trees – inhaling the smoke can cause dangerous lung inflammation.
3. Eastern Red Cedar: Allergy Amplifier
Despite its beauty, Eastern Red Cedar creates misery for many Mississippians. Male trees release enormous pollen clouds in winter and early spring, triggering severe allergic reactions across the state.
The dense evergreen foliage can also harbor cedar-apple rust, a fungal disease that jumps to apple and crabapple trees. Gardeners with fruit trees should consider alternatives to this common landscape plant.
For those with respiratory conditions, removing these trees from your property might bring welcome relief.
4. Chinaberry: Deceptively Dangerous Beauty
Chinaberry trees charm with fragrant lilac flowers and golden fruits, but don’t be fooled. Every part contains toxins that can cause vomiting, breathing problems, and even death if eaten.
Children are particularly at risk since the berries look tempting and sweet. Just 6-8 berries can seriously harm a small child.
Originally brought to the South as an ornamental, this invasive species now spreads aggressively through Mississippi. Consider removing these trees, especially if you have young children or pets.
5. Angel’s Trumpet: Heavenly Looks, Hellish Effects
Angel’s Trumpet trees produce stunning trumpet-shaped flowers that dangle like ornaments from their branches. Behind this beauty lurks danger – all parts contain powerful hallucinogens and poisons.
Gardeners handling these trees should always wear gloves. Even brushing against leaves can cause skin absorption of toxins, leading to dilated pupils and confusion.
Several Mississippi hospitals report poisoning cases each year from children and pets encountering these trees. Plant them far from play areas or consider safer alternatives.
6. Oleander: The Deadly Charmer
Popular in Southern landscapes, oleander’s pretty pink or white flowers hide a deadly secret. Just one leaf contains enough toxins to kill a small child, with symptoms appearing within hours of ingestion.
Even honey made from oleander flowers can be toxic. The smoke from burning oleander branches has caused fatalities, making proper disposal crucial.
Mississippi gardeners growing oleander should post warning signs and teach children never to put any part in their mouths. Consider removing these plants if you have curious pets or small children.
7. Yew: Ancient Killer Still Thriving
Yew trees have killed more livestock in Mississippi than nearly any other toxic plant. Their red berries tempt birds (who can eat them safely) but contain deadly seeds that can stop a human heart within hours.
The needles contain the same toxin and remain poisonous even when dried. Death can occur so quickly that victims don’t have time to reach medical help.
Many Mississippi gardeners have replaced yews with similar-looking but safer alternatives like hemlock arborvitae, especially in homes with children or grazing animals.
8. Golden Chain Tree: Sunshine Yellow Danger
When golden chain trees erupt with cascading yellow flowers each spring, they create a spectacular show. Lurking within those cheerful blooms are compounds that can trigger serious heart problems if ingested.
All parts contain cytisine, which causes vomiting, headaches, and potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbances. Children attracted to the bean-like seed pods face the greatest risk.
Many Mississippi gardeners now choose native yellowwood or serviceberry trees instead, which offer similar beauty without the toxicity concerns.
9. Wild Cherry: Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
Wild cherry trees offer beautiful spring blossoms and summer fruits that birds adore. The hidden danger lies in their wilted leaves, which release cyanide compounds when damaged by storms or drought.
Livestock that eat fallen branches after storms often suffer cyanide poisoning. The pit inside the cherry also contains these toxins, making them dangerous for children who might chew them.
Mississippi livestock owners should fence animals away from these trees, especially after wind storms when branches may have fallen into pastures.
10. Castor Bean: Deadly Beauty
Growing up to 15 feet tall in Mississippi’s long growing season, castor bean plants blur the line between tree and shrub. Their spiky red seed pods contain some of the most toxic natural substances on Earth – ricin.
Just one chewed seed can kill a child, making these plants extremely dangerous in home gardens. Many gardeners are shocked to learn they’ve been growing a plant that could produce deadly ricin.
Mississippi garden centers have largely stopped selling these plants, but they persist in many older gardens. Remove them if you have children or pets.