Deadly tropical plant grows in Suffolk garden

Phyllis Abbott, 79, spotted the first unusual shoots in her border flowerbed in spring, which has now grown into a five foot tall Datura Stramonium.

It is used by South American Indians to poison their hunting spears, arrows and fishing hooks and in sacred ceremonies by Hindu monks for its hallucinogenic qualities.

Its poison causes dry mouth, blurred vision, heart irregularities, hallucinations, and eventually coma and death in severe cases.

She and husband George, 84, only made the discovery after contacting the Royal Horticultural Society who identified the plant as highly venomous.

While its arrival is a mystery, the couple have been told the seed may have arrived via bird droppings and random sightings normally only occur in mainland Europe.

Mrs Abbott, of Newmarket, Suffolk, said: “I first saw it when I was gardening in the springtime, it was just growing in the border of my garden.

“I have no idea how it got there, I’m completely puzzled.

“It was just a tiny little thing when I found it but it has been growing and growing every since and now it is as high as my chest.

“The Royal Horticultural Society said these things can grow to be 12 feet high.”

Datura Stramonium has large, pale, trumpet shaped flowers and spiny pods.

The Royal Horticultural Society told the Abbotts that the plant’s poison could be dangerous to humans and pets and advised them to dig it up.

Mrs Abbott, who have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, said: “I have never ever seen anything like it before in my life.

“The Royal Horticultural Society said it could be dangerous, but only if we don’t handle it properly.

“We are not worried because we know about it now and can keep away from it.

“It will stay in my garden until the weekend in case anyone wants to come and see it, but then I am going to cut it down.”

James Armitage of the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “These plants are not native to Britain and we think their seeds are spread by birds.

“They belong to the same family as Deadly Nightshade and are highly poisonous if eaten.

“If you find one in your garden and have young children or are worried you can dig them up, but you can grow them as ornamental plants.

“It is worth remembering that there are lots of other poisonous plants which are much more common in British gardens, like aconite and yew.”

Datura Stramonium, also known as Devil’s Apple or Trumpet, is native to central and south America, is a bushy plant that can grow to 12 feet tall.

It has long angular leaves, spiny seed pods and pale, trumpet-shaped flowers.

It is a member of the Nightshade family, though its poison acts more strongly on the brain than its more famous cousin, Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade).

The leaves give off a pungent nauseating odour and the flowers smell sweet, but both are narcotic and can induce hallucinations or stupor if breathed in for too long.

Its seeds are particularly poisonous if eaten.