Watch out for poison hemlock, the deadly plant blooming across Virginia
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Poison hemlock can be harmful if ingested. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
The plant that may have killed Socrates could also be growing in your backyard.
Why it matters: Poison hemlock is one of the deadliest plants in North America but can look and smell like a carrot. So you should probably know how to spot it so you (or your dog) don't eat it.
The big picture: It's peak blooming season for poison hemlock, which grows along fences, ditches and roadsides.
- Chris Holstege, the director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center, told Axios he's also seen it in scattered areas while hiking in Virginia.
- It carries a poison that's like a much more toxic nicotine and can cause respiratory failure, muscle paralysis and death if even the smallest of doses are ingested.
- The juice from the plant can also irritate the skin, said Shelly Clary, an education specialist at the Virginia Poison Center at VCU Health.
The good news: Hemlock poisoning — which yes, is said to be how the Athenians executed Socrates — is rare, and Virginia's poison centers haven't yet seen an uptick in exposure calls this year.
- But Holstege said it's important to know the risks because foraging has become a more mainstream hobby during the pandemic.
- And it can be dangerous if people pick a plant that looks edible but is actually poisonous, like confusing the toxic false-hellebore with leek.
What it looks like: When poison hemlock first starts growing, its bright green leaves are low to the ground and fern-like.
- It can grow up to 10 feet tall with a green stem that has red or purple splotches — the best tell-tale sign — with white flowers blooming in small clusters during the summertime.
Pro tip: Do not mow or burn the plant if you spot it. The seeds can re-sprout and the fumes can be hazardous.
- Instead, dig it out in small patches while wearing gloves, a face mask and long sleeves.
The intrigue: It's about to be peak season for other poisonous plants, too, like milkweed — which Holstege says is common in Shenandoah National Park — and mountain laurel, which Holstege saw "tons of" while hiking Old Rag.
The bottom line: Keep your eyes peeled this summer when climbing mountains or mowing your lawn.
Go deeper: See UVA Health's guide for more details on identifying poisonous plants in Virginia.