The Poison Garden

Alnwick Garden is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the north of England in its own right. But inside this beautifully landscaped, contemporary public garden, sits a smaller garden which is famous around the world— and it is truly extraordinary. It may be beautiful to look at, but it’s strictly look and don’t touch in this enchanting piece of land, in which every plant is toxic, and most are killers.

This is one of my bucket list locations to visit.

History

The first garden was laid down in 1750 by the 1st Duke of Northumberland, who employed Capability Brown, the celebrated Northumberland gardener, to landscape the parkland adjoining Alnwick Museum.

The 3rd Duke was a plant collector, and led a century of development at Alnwick – he brought seeds from over the world, and pineapples were raised in hothouses. In the middle of the 19th century, the 4th Duke created an Italianate garden featuring a large conservatory, and at the end of the century, the gardens were at their grandest, with yew topiary, avenues of limes and acres of flowers.

During the Second World War’s “Dig for Victory” campaign, the garden was turned over and provided food, and soon afterwards the austerity of the 20th century saw the garden fall into disrepair. It was closed as a working garden in 1950.

Redevelopment

Redevelopment of the garden was instigated by Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland in 1997, and has been led by Belgian landscape designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz. It is the most ambitious new garden created in the United Kingdom since the Second World War.

As you might expect, the Poison Garden is kept behind a pair of black iron gates, with visitors allowed in under the supervision of specialist guides, who are thoroughly clued up on each of the 100 species of deadly plants and their grisly uses throughout history. Signs warning of the dangers faced by tasting, touching or even smelling the flora are numerous, although still not enough to combat natural human curiosity, it seems— in the summer of 2014, seven visitors fainted after inhaling toxic fumes.

The mix of deadly species ranges from the exotic, such as the strychnine tree of Southeast Asia (whose Latin name, Nux Vomica, gives a good indication of its toxicity), to those native to England, many of which people would not have known to be poisonous. One example is the common laurel hedge, which has often proved sinister to unwitting amateur gardeners, many of whom have been known to load up their cars with trimmings for a trip to the dump, only to fall asleep at the wheel under the influence of the plant’s fumes.

Here is a listing of just some of the plants in this unique garden

Giant Hogweed

In terms of perilous plants, giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a definite contender for a top spot. With flowers that resemble dainty queen anne’s lace and a size that rivals Jack’s beanstalk, giant hogweed is tough to miss. Plants tower 8 to 14 feet high, an impressive size that’s tempting to pose beneath. But don’t be so fast to sidle up to this giant menace. Its sticky sap has the power to burn your skin, causing blisters (of the third-degree burn kind) that continue to appear for up to seven years. Breaking a mirror has nothing on this poisonous plant! If the sap gets in your eyes, blindness can result. Giant hogweed is reported heavily in the Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest and is slowly spreading across the United States.

Cherry Laurel

Alnwick Poison Garden includes a hedging plant that’s popular on both sides of the Atlantic: cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). This fragrant evergreen produces cyanide from broken leaves or stems. During the Victorian era, laurel leaves played a key role in butterfly collections. Pop a butterfly into a jar, drop in a cut cherry laurel leaf, twist the lid on tight, and voila! — a (cyanide-poisoned) butterfly perfect for mounting. Avid British gardeners occasionally complain of headaches and dizziniess due to cyanide poisoning when hauling laurel hedge prunings to the yard waste drop. This event typically occurs on a warm day after clippings have sat in the car with the windows up, allowing cyanide to accumulate. A commonly planted U.S. variety is ‘Otto Luyken.’

Delphinium

A cottage garden classic, delphinium brings spires of beautiful blue blossoms to spring garden scenes. Lurking beneath the surface of this bloomer, however, are compounds that kill. The youngest parts of the plants deliver the most potent poison. In the West, wild delphinium (often called larkspur) kills livestock each year — animals die within a few hours of eating the plant. All parts of delphinium are poisonous, causing symptoms of abdominal pain and paralysis that leads to death. Wear gloves when deadheading, and make sure children or pets do not consume seeds.

Castor Bean

Towering and sculptural, castor bean (Ricinus communis) commands attention in the garden with its deep red, star-like leaves. This tropical beauty hails from East Africa, but has naturalized in warmer regions of North America. In the garden, a plant easily tops 5 feet (or more) in a typical summer growing season. Gardeners love castor bean for its architectural appearance, including chunky seed pods. Seeds contain ricin, one of most deadly natural poisons — 6,000 times more poisonous than cyanide. Four seeds are enough to kill an average-size person. This is the poison used in the infamous umbrella gun in 1978 to take out Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov on the Waterloo Bridge in London.

Rue

Common rue or herb-of-grace delivers its poison via phytotoxicity — like giant hogweed, it burns skin. Long revered for medicinal and culinary uses, rue (Ruta graveolens) became an herb garden favorite for its pretty appearance: dainty texture and blue-green leaves topped with yellow blooms. These days, it’s fallen out of favor due to its skin-burning properties. At Alnwick Poison Garden, a senior gardener spotted a weed growing up out of a clump of rue. Without thinking (or gloving up), the gardener pulled the weed and got rue sap on her hands. Within an hour, blisters formed on her hands that progressed to third-degree burns. This reaction is caused because the sap removes skin’s natural protection against ultraviolet rays. Once the sap is in your system, it lingers up to seven years.

Pasque Flower

Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) steals the spotlight in spring with blooms that open in shades including purple, white, wine-red and yellow. Ferny leaves form an eye-catching tuft. Blossoms, leaves and stems are covered in silvery hairs that add a textural element to the pretty plant. It thrives in dry soil and readily spreads to form a colony if you let it set seed. All parts of the pasque flower plant contain poisonous sap that produces skin irritation and violent convulsions.

Atropa Belladonna

Native to the United Kingdom and naturalized throughout the United States, Atropa belladdonna brings the poison power. Also known as deadly nightshade, this botanic assassin opens purple blossoms that fade to form sweet blue-black berries. Four berries can kill a child. During the Italian Renaissance in Venice, ladies of the court would drop juice from the berries into their eyes, which caused pupils to dilate and cheeks to flush — cosmetic tricks to enhance beauty (and eventually lead to blindness and death).

Crown Imperial Fritillaria

Known as the crown imperial, Fritillaria imperialis is an impressive spring bloomer. Tall 3- to 4-foot stems topped with bell-like blossoms command attention. Bulbs boast a skunky scent that repels people and pests alike. It’s a good bulb to plant with tulips to discourage underground critters from feasting on tulip bulbs. A fritillaria bulb contains alkaloids called “imperialin” that are poisonous to people and animals. Eating a large quantity of bulbs is what delivers the fatal blow.

Datura

Also known as thorn-apple (due to its spiky seedpods), Datura is a night-flowering plant with richly perfumed blooms. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, slowly unfurling at dusk and lingering until about noon the following day. When jostled or crushed, leaves release a strong, offensive odor similar to rancid peanut butter. Plants grow quickly and readily self-sow — to the point of becoming invasive. Seeds and flowers are toxic, narcotic and hallucinogenic. Serious illness or death can result from ingesting the plant. Many municipalities forbid growing this potent plant.

Monkshood

For late-season color, it’s tough to beat Aconitum napellus. Also known as monkshood or wolf’s-bane, this pretty perennial opens purple flowers that last through light frosts. All parts of monkshood are poisonous if consumed, especially the roots, which contain aconitine, a heart and nerve poison. Historically, people used aconitum to poison spear and arrow tips for hunting and battle. The poison was a favored execution tool in ancient Rome. The name wolf’s-bane refers to the plant’s ability to repel wolves, both real and werewolves. In 2009, England’s infamous “Curry Killer” used a type of aconitum to kill a former lover. In the garden, wear gloves when handling aconitum to avoid a rash, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Lenten Rose

Early season blooms are the hallmark of Lenten rose (Helleborus), which is sometimes called hellebore or Christmas rose. Leathery evergreen leaves and nodding blooms shine during winter months, with flowers appearing from late winter to early spring. Blossoms unfurl in many hues, including white, pink, burgundy and near-black (like the Dark and Handsome variety seen here). All parts of the plant are poisonous, although roots contain the highest concentrations of harmful compounds, which induce vomiting and can lead to death.

Flowering Tobacco

As the name suggests, flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) is one of the plants used to develop the tobacco plant. It’s a warm-weather plant that grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Flowering tobacco opens perfumed white blooms that cascade like exploding fireworks. The flowering tobacco family includes over 60 species, all of which are toxic if ingested because they contain nicotine, which affects nerves controlling heart rhythm. Keep plants away from pets, livestock or curious children who might be tempted to nibble leaves.

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy may be number one on everyone’s short list of plants to watch out for in the yard. Knowing how to identify poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is critical to steering clear of this plant, which can cause reactions in humans ranging from a red, itchy rash to blistering or even anaphylaxis.

Wolfsbane

Aconitum vulparia, commonly known as wolfsbane, bears ivory to yellowish flowers from late spring into autumn. Aconitums are extremely poisonous and can cause numbness and tingling just by brushing against the plants.

‘Silver Queen’ Euonymus Fortunei

All parts of this evergreen can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and convulsions if ingested