There's A Deadly Plant Growing In Texas Yards That Looks Like A Harmless Weed
By Katie Lawrence|Published July 03, 2023
×
Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
If you’re an avid gardener like I am, you may want to listen up. There is a poisonous plant in Texas called Hemlock that is easily mistaken for a harmless wildflower or weed – and its touch can be deadly. Here’s everything you need to know about it:
Hemlock - also known as poison hemlock - looks harmless enough, but in fact, quite the opposite is true.
This highly toxic plant is not native to Texas; it is indigenous to Europe and Northern Africa. The invasive species was introduced to the Lone Star State due to its aesthetically pleasing white flowers.
Partial to full sun and fertile soil, Hemlock primarily grows in northern and western Texas.
It is most highly concentrated near water sources in the Edwards Plateau region. Hemlock has also been found in Lancaster, which is a suburb of Dallas.
Advertisement
This is what the plant looks like in its seed stage. When Hemlock flowers, the blooms have five petals each and are grouped in umbrella-shaped clusters.
Flowers typically appear in the late spring and early summer, and the plant can grow up to nine feet tall. It also has a distinctive, unpleasant odor, and the hollow stems feature purple spots. Hemlock also produces a green, ridged fruit that turns a gray-brown color upon maturation.
The famous philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death via ingestion of Hemlock for his crime of corrupting the young people of Athens.
Symptoms of Hemlock toxicity can include everything from facial swelling to dizziness to shortness of breath. Poisoning can also occur through inhaling the plant's fumes.
As far as ingesting Hemlock, just 6-8 leaves can kill a human in about two hours.
If you see a plant that looks like Hemlock in your yard, first put on protective clothing such as gloves, long sleeves, pants, thick socks, and high-top shoes.
Then, dig up all parts of the plant to fully remove it, and dispose of them with the rest of your yard waste. Do not burn or mow the plants, as exposing your skin, lungs, and eyes to the toxic particles can prove deadly.
Have you ever seen this poisonous plant in Texas? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to learn about some creepy bugs in Texas that you should steer clear from.
Protective clothing can be useful when doing yard work – whether or not you’re dealing with a poisonous plant. Luckily, Backcountry offers items such as gloves, long pants, and hiking boots, which can all help keep you safe.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
