Alicia Silverstone shocked her fans this week after filming herself casually biting into a poisonous berry.
The ‘Clueless’ star, 47, posted a clip to her TikTok channel that showed her eating a small orange berry she’d picked from a garden in London, while asking fans ‘what the heck’ it was.
Green-fingered viewers quickly identified that Silverstone had in fact eaten a Jerusalem Cherry – a toxic berry that can cause fever and agonising stomach pain.
While the actress has reassured her 4.3 million followers that she is fine, the incident serves as a stark reminder that many poisonous plants are lurking in UK gardens.
So, do you know your harmless herbs from your poisonous poinsettias? Scroll down for the full list of plants to avoid.Â
Alicia Silverstone shocked her fans this week after filming herself casually biting into a poisonous berry
In the UK, keen gardeners are fortunate to have access to a wealth of plant species – the majority of which are harmless.
However, as Alicia Silverstone found out, there is a risk associated with a small number of plants grown in gardens, the wider landscape, or as houseplants.
‘Serious poisoning by plants is very uncommon in the UK,’ the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reassures.
‘Some garden plants present a hazard, but the risk of severe poisoning, skin reaction or allergy is generally low.’
The RHS’ list of potentially harmful plants breaks the species up into three main categories – A, B, and C – according to the severity associated with either eating, or touching them.
Topping the list as the most dangerous plant in the UK is Toxicodendron (poison ivy), which is the only species listed in Category A. As the name suggests poison ivy is poisonous if eaten and can also cause severe dermatitis if touched
Category B, meanwhile, contains 62 species. Many of these plants contain berries that look appetising but are toxic if eaten. This includes Arum (better known as lords-and-ladies), Yew (pictured), and Atropa (also known as deadly nightshade)
Topping the list as the most dangerous plant in the UK is Toxicodendron (more commonly known as poison ivy), which is the only species listed in Category A.
As the name suggests poison ivy is poisonous if eaten and can also cause severe dermatitis if touched.
Category B, meanwhile, contains 62 species.
Many of these plants contain berries that look appetising but are toxic if eaten.
This includes Arum (better known as lords-and-ladies), Yew, and Atropa (also known as deadly nightshade).
Finally, Category C contains 181 plant species that can be harmful, including several that look like delicious fruits.Â
Arum (better known as ‘Lords and Ladies) has small red berries which look appealing – but can cause digestive issues if consumed
Solanum pseudocapsicum (better known as Christmas Cherry) is a nightshade species with mildly poisonous fruit
Actaea (better known as baneberry)Â can cause digestive upset or discomfort if eaten, according to the RHS
Solanum pseudocapsicum (better known as Christmas Cherry), Symphoricarpos (snowberry), Actaea (baneberry), and Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) may look tasty, but they can all cause digestive upset or discomfort if eaten.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, thankfully there are several handy plant identification apps that can help.Â
This includes the RHS’ own app, Grow.Â
‘RHS Grow is a gardening app that makes it incredibly easy to identify plants, keep track of the plants you have, receive tips on how to care for them, and get help and advice,’ the RHS said.
‘The app gives you access to 200 years of knowledge from botanists, scientists, fruit and veg experts and RHS specialist advisors – helping you to grow plants with confidence.’
However, if you think you or someone you know may have eaten part of a harmful plant, the RHS advises seeking medical advice immediately from a hospital A&E department.
‘Take a sample of the plant with you,’ it advises.
However, it adds: ‘Do not panic and DO NOT try to make the person sick.’