Common Poisonous Plants Found on NC Pastures

The toxicity level of these plants will vary depending on plant vegetative stage, consumption, and animals’ age and physiological status.

Scientific Name Common Name(s) Poisonous parts
Agrostemma githago Corncockle seed and leaves
Amaranthus spp. Pigweed leaves
Amsinckia intermedia Fiddleneck seeds
Brassica spp, Rape, Cabbage, Turnips, Mustard, Broccoli,  roots, seeds
Chenopodium album Lambs Quarters all
Conium maculatum Hemlock all
Convallaria majalis Lilly of the valley Leaves, flowers and rhizome
Crotalaria spectabilis showy crotalaria  all
Datura stramonium Jimsonweed all, seeds
Eupatorium rugosum White snakeroot All parts, green or dried
Gelsemiun sempervirens Carolina jessamine Flower, leaves and roots
Helleborus spp. Lenten rose
Hyoscyamus niger Black Henbane All, fresh or dry
Iris spp. Irises rhizomes and rootstocks
Kalmia latifolia  K. angustifolia mountain laurel  sheep laurel  leaves
Laburnum anagyroides Golden Chain, Laburnum pods, seeds, all
Lachnanthes caroliniana Red-root Roots, leaves, stems, and flowers
Lobelia spp. Lobelia Leaves, stems, and fruit
Nerium oleander Oleander Leaves, green or dried; twigs
Nicotiana spp. Tobacco, Tree Tobacco leaves
Ornithogallum umbellatum Bulbs Star of Bethlehem
Phytolacca americana Pokeweed all, root
Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple, Mandrake all
Prunus spp. Wild Cherries, Black Cherry,  seeds,  wilted leaves, bark, twigs
Pteridium aquilinium Bracken Fern all
Ranunculus abortivus  Buttercup all
Rheum rhaponticum Rhubarb leaves
Rhododendron maxima R  catawbiense Great laurel Rosebay Rhododendron leaves
Ricinus communis Castor bean  all, seeds
Sambucus spp. Elderberry Leaves, opening buds, and young shoots, bark, and roots
Senna occidentalis Coffee weed Leaves, stems, and raw seeds
Senecio jacobaea L.;  Jacobaea vulgaris Ragwort Flowers, leaves, roots and stems, fresh or dried
Sorghum halepense Johnson grass  Leaves and stems, green or wilted.
Xanthium strumarium Cocklebur seedlings, seeds


 

Adapted from: Plants Poisonous to Livestock, Cornell University;  Poisonous plants in pastures. University of New Hampshire; Plants poisonous to livestock and pets in North Carolina, Hardin, Brownie and Krings, 2018;  Ferrari 2001, Parisini et al. 2003