A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds

by Rebecca E. Hirsch

"Should you encounter any of the plants in this book, do not treat them lightly. They can kill you. Or cause you unbearable agony. Or land you in jail. Consider yourself warned."


Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants.


Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother’s Nature’s ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own.


In A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds author Rebecca Hirsch takes you on a wild journey to look at how toxic chemicals in the natural world have been used for medicine, warfare, and sinister acts of foul plan. Tread lightly as we explore these plants’ ominous deeds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Nature, Adult, True Crime, Plants

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

Rebecca E. Hirsch is a botanist-turned-writer and the author of more than 80 science and nature books for children. Her books have won a Riverby Award, a Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, a Green Earth Book Award Honor, and many starred reviews. www.rebeccahirsch.com

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deadly Compendium of Poisonous Plants is not only educational, but enthralling - I read it in one sitting. I loved learning about the folklore and true crime associated with each plant, and the dark humor is perfect for the subject matter.

The book design itself is gorgeous, with rich illustrations and typography adding to the lush, creepy, dark academia vibe.

If you like going down Wikipedia rabbit holes, this one is for you!

[Holden Wunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book so I’m going to start with the positives. This is an absolutely stunning and unique collection of deadly plants. This would be one to put on the coffee table because it is so stunning. The artwork is gorgeous, the photographs of the plants alongside famous counterparts who have played parts in the history of said plants are also quite enjoyable.

I also love the collection of plants chosen. On a nitpicky note I would’ve liked a little bit of a separation on certain plants. We have everything here from Coca to Poison Ivy to the big daddy killers like Castor Beans and Nightshade. I would’ve loved a section of plants that are used purposefully versus the ones that will outright kill you ie a chapter that has Cocaine, Peppers, etc.

The book is separated into sections dedicated to each plant and while there are a lot, I wish this was a bit more condensed. Each plant gets a couple pages that includes a blurb on human interaction with the plant, scientific information on the plant, a quote from a famous work that references the plant, and just basic information on each one. I wish there were about 5-7 less plants included so that each dedicated plant had more space, time, history, antidotes about it.

My biggest problem was the writing. I know this is a book that the main points are to teach about these deadly and unique species but the writing was delivered like a power point presentation in high school and left a lot to be wanted. There were multiple times there were asides that “gross information was coming” but I chose this book. Give me the dirty, gross, heinous effects from these plants and please don’t treat me like I’m ignorant. Typically I would take multiple stars off for this but as all the other aspects were highly enjoyable it made up for the lack. I enjoyed it a lot but also prefer books that are similar in nature with a more scientific and eloquent writing style.

[Melissa Stordahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book; it was like the intersection on the Venn diagram of things I find interesting: weird scientific facts, true crime, revenge, historical anecdotes. It's also filled with gorgeous illustrations and photographs. I will be needing hard copy of this one.

There are twenty-five chapters on individual toxic plants, from Belladonna to Hemlock to Opium. They are full of detailed science, effects on the body, history, mentions in mythology, true stories of their use, even warnings when the details were unsettling or gross.

I absolutely devoured this one, and probably made the man in my house nervous as I read snippets out loud with enthusiasm, ha.

Thank you so much to Zest Books for this ARC to review!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

This would make a fun coffee table book.

I appreciate the integration of storytelling with scientific facts.

Most of the book is visually stunning, especially the chapter headings. However, I did find the large format and more modern photos to stick out and take away from the overall appearance. The book format and styling lack cohesiveness.

Thank you NetGalley and Zest Books for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants
By Rebecca E. Hirsch
Wow, I really enjoyed this awesome informative book! I like science, especially when mixed with exciting history and the alure of deadly poisons. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book! I hope this author writes another book with similar topics.
This book tells the reader about several plant's descriptions and where they grow. Then, she tells a true story or two about how deadly these plants are. Some stories are from hundreds of years ago and some very recent.
A drawing and description with the technical details are also shown. The reason or how the poison is harmful is broken down is also explained for the reader.
Some of the plants include Gympie-Gympie, Belladonna, Datura, Caster Bean, Ergot, Heartbreak Grass, Mandrake, and more.
This is definitely one of my favorite books this year. Easy to understand. Entertaining and informative regardless of the deadly topic. I also think this book would be enjoyed by middle grades to adults. I know that I would have been attracted to this book at 7th grade on up. I'm an old lady now and still enjoy learning.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and accessible. Great for learning what to stay away from in the wild.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was absolutely amazing

[Brooke Nadzam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I know how to kill you all.

[MKF · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a part in the Belladonna section that bugs me and that's when the author claims it was used by medieval witches. According to the author these supposed witches used it in flying potions(this potion is mentioned in another chapter as well) and that the potion made them hallucinate that they were flying around. Are we supposed to ignore the fact that most medieval witches weren't actually witches and confessions were done under torture. I doubt that any real medieval witch is admitting publicly they take drugs to get high then spend the rest of the night pretending to fly on broomsticks.
The rest of the book is okay but like others have said it's confusing on who the book is geared for. My library has it listed as teen and being a short paperback with large photos, large print, and lacking simple information it makes sense. Except I'm not sure I would feel comfortable giving my teen a book on poisonous plants which discusses drugs like Cocaine, some graphic descriptions, and crimes involving the poison.
The last thing I have to say is that it's very unlikely that Cleopatra died from a snake bite and should not be stated as a fact.

[Michelle Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC.

A quick look at the plants that, at the very least, annoy us, if not outright kill. Despite having read books about this stuff before, this still had a few selections that I didn't know about. And I like that despite their hostility towards mankind, we still get an understanding of why some of these plants are still important to their environment.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book about poisonous plants. I hope to maybe use one in a future book.

[Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Zest Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Here is a photo of the gorgeous ARC that they sent me:



A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch is an amazing nonfiction book that will appeal to the horror reader in your life. The book is a collection of anecdotes about various poisonous plants. The book includes plenty of interesting stories that are sure to catch the reader's attention, including connections to the Salem Witch Trials.

Here is a spine-tingling excerpt from the opening chapter:

"We begin in London on a winter evening in 2009. Lakhvinder "Lucky" Cheema and his fiance Gurjeet Choongh are at home, dining on leftover curry and discussing their wedding plans.
Suddenly, Lucky feels a strange tingling in his mouth. He grips his stomach and begins to vomit. Alarmed, he tells his fiance, "My face has become numb and when I touch it, I cannot feel it."
Gurjeet feels sick and dizzy too."

Overall, A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds is an amazing collection of stories that will appeal to fans of Why Women Kill or My Lady Jane. One highlight of this book is how interesting the stories are. Even though I am personally not a fan of gardening or flowers, I could not put this book down. Each of the stories had me enraptured and wanting to learn more. Another highlight of this book is how beautifully it is decorated. This isn't just black and white text. There are interesting colors and font choices that really show off what a beautiful book this is. This would make the perfect gift for the plant-lover or true crime fan in your life! If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of nonfiction books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in October!

[Christa Hartzog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I thought the book was presented really well.

The images for the most part were engaging and beautiful, especially the introduction image at the beginning of each chapter. These images were reminiscent of old botanical journal drawings. There were a few images that threw off the overall aesthetic of the book, mainly the couple I saw from Getty Images.

The format of the book was very interesting and flowed well. I do wonder if the book may have been mislabeled as for children, not because of the content but because of the explanations. While I really enjoyed the real world examples of encounters with the plants, I thought they could have been fleshed out more, especially when compared to the details and explanation of how the body reacts to the poison compounds in the plants. This portion of each chapter I feel goes beyond a child’s ability to comprehend.

Overall, the book received five stars because it accomplished the author’s goal of introducing the reader to a series of carefully curated poisonous plants with a logical and easy to follow format that was also aesthetically pleasing. It’s a wonderful beginner’s guide to poisonous plants that also is artfully presented.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun and educational read. I picked it up for research because I’ll be using various plants in the fantasy book I’m writing and was curious what this one would cover. While the chapter themes sometimes were for a single plant and sometimes for a variety of plants (which bothered my organizational heart a little), the information included in each chapter was always really interesting. I loved that sometimes we got stories from 100+ years ago and sometimes much more recent ones (in the last 30 or so years). That made this book feel much more realistic to me in the sense that these things happened within my lifetime. I know that might sound silly but it was cool to see more modern examples for once. The book itself is absolutely gorgeous and I’m putting it on my wishlist.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deathly compendium of poisionous plants is a conglomerate of insights into the "villains of of plant kingdom." As described by the author, she tends to unmask them to show how sometimes a harmless looking plant or weed can lead to deadly wager of pain, suffering and death.

This book contains information about the poisionous effects of certain plants like belladonna, tobacco, castor seeds, hallucinogenic fungus , toxic weeds and more. As the book explores events of historical past and contemporary present, we stand witness to actions and intentions of harms commit by individuals by usage of knowledge of poisionous impacts of certain plants.

As the author rightful states "Appearances can be deceiving" these plants sometimes thrive in common and ordinary places where one would suspect anything as that dangerous. The plant kingdom has an extensive array of species of herbal, beneficiary and healthy plants however slone should never forget that there are several others that could cause unexplainable sufferings and pain unlike anything. The book also highlights the strength and immediate as well as long lasting effects of such plants.

I listened to the audiobook and it was absolutely intriguing.

[Jess (scijessreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are interested in strange histories, odd plants, people behaving badly, and cool science facts, this is a great book for you. It is full of beautiful illustrations, sharp writing that keeps the information interesting without getting bogged down in too much technical language, and stories of how not every plant plays nice with others.

I did wish that there was a bit more organization in the presentation of the plants and poisons. It seemed a bit random, without a throughline to tie everything together into a cohesive narrative. Even a compendium like this can have a narrative thread, and I think that would have helped highlight some of the families of poisonous plants even more (or plants with similar toxins or methods of toxin delivery). A few details about how the immune system responds to some toxins were a bit muddled as well (speaking as an immunologist by trade).

Overall, this was an interesting collection of deadly fauna. It is presented in easy-to-read language with just enough humor to keep it fun, making it accessible to a wide audience. This would make for a fun coffee table book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group | Zest Books for this book for review. This book was amazing with its information about all plants that could kill, sicken or otherwise harm you. I was familiar with many of these plants such as deadly nightshade but there were many others that I had not heard of. I also loved the stories added about each with how they had been used either to poison or in attempts to heal or harm through the years either with good or bad intentions.

[Max Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many science books often forget to keep the writing entertaining, or alternatively forget the informational aspects. This book balances stories, science and entertaining writing perfectly and gives you a strong idea of all the plants and how they affect people. I love the addition of historical accounts and uses of the plants too!

[Nadina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way this was written. The chapters were informative but short. I liked that they started with a story/case study and then went into information on the plant.
It was short and easy to read and fascinating l. I would absolutely recommend this as easy to read non-fiction.

[bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh i’m gonna be spitting SO many plant facts for the next two weeks

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and Educational

Super fun book about poisonous plants. Full of stories of people being poisoned both by accident and on purpose. I was constantly amazed at what a casual encounter with one of these plants could do. It's almost enough to make me never want to go outside again. Almost.

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has always be interested in poisonous plants, this book was easy to blitz through in one sitting. I enjoyed the layout and the writing as a whole.

[Robin Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a wonderful book. I loved the writing style and learning about all the plants. it really taught me a lot and the humor was also rlly great.

[Savvy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

For the sake of full transparency, I was over zealous in my ARC pursuit on NetGalley and *assumed* this was a fantasy book based on the cover. Maybe a witchy adventure? I digress. I am happy to report that my mistake resulted in a positive experience with this book. The artwork is stunning. The information was interesting. Not my typical read, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I came for the stunning cover and left with knowledge regarding poisonous plants. Overall, would recommend

Expected Publish Date: October 22, 2024

A big thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Beersbooksandboos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with deadly plants and learning about this. I know that was a weird thing to say but it is true lol. I just like learning about the human thought process when it comes to poisonous plants and their uses. I will probably be picking up all the books out there about deadly plants

Thank you Netgalley and Zest Books ™ for letting me give my honest review

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifying. This was a horror novel, but I learned a lot. So, that's good, I guess. The knowledge will serve me during the nightmares I'll have about it.

[Am Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea Abraham Lincoln's mother died (indirectly) of plant poisoning until I read this book. She (along with other clueless villagers at the time) was killed after drinking milk from cows that had eaten poisonous white snakeroot while grazing in the woods (causing their milk to also be poisoned)! She was only in her 30s. (All the cows eventually also died, by the way - the plant takes some time to kill.) This is how the book typically starts each chapter (which focuses on one specific plant or plant type) - by talking about a death or murder that happened, and how a plant caused it. It certainly was an effective way to catch my attention!

Several plants the book featured I already knew of (e.g. manchineel tree, castor bean), some I felt were not quite "poisonous" the way we think of it (e.g. chilli peppers, tobacco, coca), and some actually weren't truly "poisonous" at all, like poison ivy (contrary to what its name suggests) - humans simply have an allergic reaction to it that makes it seem poisonous, but in reality, urushiol (the resin that causes the reaction) is not a toxic compound. Humans are, in fact, the only creatures that have a problem with it; animals and insects don't. I also learnt - interestingly - that a small percentage of humans are completely immune to poison ivy and do not present any reaction to it! Fascinating!

Some plants the book talked about were also truly vicious, like the tree nettle in New Zealand that's covered with truly terrifying spines that resemble extremely sharp hypodermic needles - injecting a cocktail of noxious chemicals into the bodies of creatures that unwittingly brush against it. It's been implicated in several deaths throughout history, including one as recent as 2002, when a fit and healthy 25-year-old man was found dead in the forested mountain area of the Ruahine Ranges. He had likely encountered the tree and unfortunately been pricked by its countless stinging spines which then flooded his body with toxins.

This was probably the most interesting book I read in 2025 and I highly recommend it especially if plants and nature are your thing.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants is a very well written monograph for middle grade readers about poisonous botanicals curated and written by Rebecca E. Hirsch. Released 22nd Oct 2024 by Lerner Publishing on their Zest Books imprint, it's 204 pages and is available in library binding, paperback, and ebook formats.

This is a beautifully presented book, with elegant photos and illustrations. It's aimed at middle grade+ readers, so the language is purposefully simple and direct. Proper nomenclature is used throughout alongside common names. Each of the plants (and they are myriad and varied) gets its own profile.

There are "true crime" historical tidbits and stories scattered throughout as well as scientific based items like what poison types each plant contains and sometimes their effects. If the author occasionally goes a tiny bit overboard with the sensationalistic "gross info incoming", it should be remembered that this book is aimed at youngsters for whom a good gross bit of info is ambrosia.

Well written and visually appealing, it would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition (school acquisitions personnel are strongly advised to vet the content beforehand and evaluate in light of liability concerns). It would also be a neat addition to gardening / allotment / community garden library, and home use.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is a collection of stories about different poisonous plants from around the world.

Each plant is introduced to readers through an anecdote. Some of the anecdotes are historical while others are more true crime accounts and still others are speculative (i.e. it’s unclear if the featured planted played a role in the presented story but there is evidence or conjecture to suggest it did).

Overall, I found this to be a fairly fun and informative read. It’s by no means meant to be an in-depth account of anything I don’t think. While the stories add some variety and intrigue to the presentation of these poisonous plants, I wouldn’t say any of the stories are particularly well-researched. For example, this book talks about the debunked(?) theory that ergot poisoning is responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. So, the research is a bit sensational and a bit less rigorous at points.

But, reading about the plants themselves and where they grow as well as how they have been used historically through to the modern age was definitely interesting. The writing is very accessible and the author warns readers throughout about the very real dangers of these plants.

Plus, the illustrations are quite lovely.

Anyway.

If you are a reader with an interest in these deadly plants and/or if you are someone curious about historical or true crime tragedies involving poisonous plants, this would definitely be your jam~

[Stacy Keene · Rating 4 out of 5]

After receiving A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants:Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch, I was immediately struck by Eugenia Nobati’s lush, velvety, botanical illustrations. I generally prefer to reveal a book, page by page, as I read it, but I felt compelled to flip through and scan the illustrations. I soon found that I was also intrigued by the format of the book. It is set up similar to a textbook, with each plant receiving a dynamic unit wherein the plant’s history, folklore, true accounts of poisonings, and other facts, are broken into bite-size sections. Each section has its own visual layout, including photos, graphics, illustrations, bulleted lists, etc. My ADHD brain delighted at the visual variety, easily digestible sections, and wealth of interesting trivia. The book reads like a 101 of poisonous plants and would surely satisfy the budding curiosity of a teen botanist or a young true crime buff. Mind you, there are some gory details, and the subject matter can be a bit grim. But, then again, it certainly is beneficial to learn the lesson that Mother Nature is a wondrous force, not to be taken lightly. I would definitely recommend this lively, if macabre, read to teens and young adults who like a bit of sinister to their science.

Thank you, Zest Press, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.