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Building a beautiful yard is a fun endeavor, but it is important to choose the proper plants. While certain plants may appear attractive, they can be deceptive, hiding deadly properties or invasive tendencies that might harm the yard and its surroundings. Here are ten plants you might reconsider:
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Poison Ivy
When you come into contact with this oil, urushiol, you can get itchy, blistering rashes. It grows as a vine or bush and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woods and backyards. When cleaning poison ivy, be careful because all portions of the plant, including dead ones, might carry toxic oil.
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Kudzu
Kudzu, also known as the “vine that ate the South,” may grow at rates of up to a foot per day under ideal conditions. It prevents other plants from receiving sunlight, causing them to die off. Kudzu is normally controlled with a mix of trimming, herbicide application, and allowing goats to feed on it.
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Giant Hogweed
This plant may grow up to 14 feet tall and produce huge umbrella-shaped blossoms. Its sap contains furocoumarins, which can cause serious burns and long-term scarring if it touches your skin while exposed to sunlight. If you stumble across giant hogweed, contact local authorities so that it can be safely removed.
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Japanese Knotweed
This plant is extremely resilient and capable of growing through cement, which makes it a nightmare for homeowners. It has the potential to undermine riverbanks and surpass native vegetation. Getting rid of Japanese knotweed typically requires expert guidance and continued treatment for several years.
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Manchineel
This blooming shrub (sometimes referred to as the “beach apple”) is native to tropical regions of South America. Each component of the plant is toxic, especially the tiny spherical manchineel fruits, which can be lethal if consumed. The sap includes toxins that cause blisters when it comes in contact with the skin.
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Buckthorn and Honeysuckle
Purple loosestrife is not the only species of invasive plants generating difficulties in natural habitats. Norway and Amur maples were added to buckthorns, and foreign honeysuckles were added as forest invaders. Birds eat buckthorn berries, and the seeds are widely distributed. Before long, numerous seedlings show up, displacing existing trees in woods and gardens.
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Poison Oak
This woody shrub from the sumac species throws an awful hit. Its sap also includes urushiol, a compound that causes irritation when it comes into contact with and is absorbed by the skin. Poison oak can occasionally be mistaken for poison ivy. Its leaves, which resemble oak trees, help identify it from its bush form.
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English Ivy
English ivy is widely used for its visual appeal. However, it can harm trees by restricting light and increasing weight, resulting in weakened structures and, finally, dying. To get rid of English ivy, clip the stems at the bottom and slowly take them out of structures and trees.
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Bittersweet Nightshade
Bittersweet nightshade, which is toxic to both humans and pets, grows in clusters during the springtime until the end of summer. This annual vine is made up of crimson berries. The shrub’s blossoms are purple, and its roots extend horizontally below the soil. Bittersweet nightshades can grow on the ground or climb buildings, trees, and walls.
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Jimson Weed
Jimson weed is an annual herb in the nightshade species that goes by several other names, such as thorn apple, devil’s snare, and devil’s trumpets. This plant is hazardous, and its seeds carry alkaloid chemicals that can be fatal if consumed. Jimson weed blooms are trumpet-shaped and white or violet in color, and they produce spiny fruits.
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