Poison ivy gets the celebrity treatment when it comes to plants gardeners should avoid, and for good reason. Its three leaflets have inspired generations of cautious yard work, but several other plants can cause much more serious problems, from painful skin burns to severe poisoning if someone mistakes them for an ordinary weed. That does…
Giant Hogweed
This Invasive Plant Can Cause Severe Skin Burns — Here’s How to Recognize It
Giant hogweed looks like the sort of enormous, dramatic plant that belongs in a fantasy garden, but getting too close can turn a pleasant walk or weekend yard project into a medical problem. Its clear, watery sap contains compounds that can make skin extremely sensitive to ultraviolet light, leading to painful burns and blisters after…
7 Plants You Should Think Twice About Touching With Bare Hands
Gardening usually involves getting a little dirt under the fingernails, but some plants can make that hands-on approach a genuinely bad idea. Certain species can sting instantly, trigger an itchy rash hours later, or leave skin dangerously sensitive to sunlight. A pair of gloves can turn a questionable gardening decision into a very uneventful afternoon….
That “Weed” in Your Yard Could Leave You With Painful Blisters
A harmless-looking weed can turn a routine afternoon of pulling plants into a very unpleasant skin problem, especially if you encounter wild parsnip or giant hogweed. These plants contain compounds that can make skin unusually sensitive to ultraviolet light, so a little plant sap followed by sunshine can produce redness and blistering that looks remarkably…
5 Plants That Could Be Illegal to Grow in Your Backyard This Spring—Check Your State List
Spring gardening season brings a rush of excitement, glossy seed catalogs, and dreams of lush greenery taking over every empty patch of soil. But hidden among the innocent-looking plants at garden centers and online listings are botanical rebels that lawmakers would rather you never plant at all. Some of these greenery glamour stars grow too…