Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities

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Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities

by Amy Stewart (Goodreads Author)

3.81 · rating details · 1,105 ratings · 300 reviews

A tree that sheds poison daggers; a glistening red seed that stops the heart; a shrub that causes paralysis; a vine that strangles; and a leaf that triggered a war. In "Wicked Plants," Stewart takes on over two hundred of Mother Nature's most appalling creations. It's an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. You'll learn which plants...more

Hardcover, 236 pages

Published May 21st 2009 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill (first published 2009)

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Community Reviews

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Aug 27, 2011

Jenny Esplin rated it

Who knew plants could be so wicked? This book contains the terrors of the plant world. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

My favorite plant was the dangerous Jimsom weed. The Jamestown settlers used it against some British soldiers, to get the upper hand on ‘em. Clever colonists. Also interesting was the caster bean, whose poisonous extract was used to kill a communist in the 1970s. And how ‘bout those crazy poisonous ordeal beans, used to determine guilt within the West African crimin...more

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Jul 31, 2011

Richard rated it

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Book Report: Bite-sized reports of the horrible horrible scary itchy deadly horrible doings of the Kingdom Plantae. Illustrated with beautiful woodcuts by Briony Morrow-Cribbs, that are, by themselves, worth the price of the book.

My Review: I swear I have never bathed so often as when I read this book. Hibiclens, pHisoHex, witch hazel, lavender water...every cleansing agent I possess...applied to every inch of my quite sizable person, at least thre...more

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Mar 16, 2011

Ruza rated it

This book frightened me, but in a good way. How could a book about lovely shrubs, trees and flowers scare you, you ask? Well, I was astonished how many plants in your garden can potentially be life threatening and cause severe damage to you and animals. Not only that, but how incredibly naive we are when it comes to handling these plants and we actually bring some of these things in our homes. I was amazed and shocked by just how powerfully potent some plants were. There's a tree in Austral...more

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Mar 06, 2011

Stephanie D. (Misfit Salon) rated it

This time of year is when I usually plan my garden for the coming spring and summer. Rather than turn to Western Sunset, I thought I'd thumb through Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart for inspiration, er, for what not to plant.

If you ever want to take a peaceful walk in a garden or hike on a nature trail again, perhaps this isn't the book for you 'cause it freaked me out. Just a little.

With section titles l...more

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

I saw this book and just thought it would be an interesting read. Besides who can resist the title "Wicked Plants"?

Basically the book goes through many different types of plants that are "Wicked". This means they are either deadly, illegal, destructive, painful, intoxicating, or dangerous...you get the idea. There are two types of entries in the book. The first are pages dedicated to a single plant. These have an etching of the plant on one page and then a descripti...moreI saw this book and just thought it would be an interesting read. Besides who can resist the title "Wicked Plants"?

Basically the book goes through many different types of plants that are "Wicked". This means they are either deadly, illegal, destructive, painful, intoxicating, or dangerous...you get the idea. There are two types of entries in the book. The first are pages dedicated to a single plant. These have an etching of the plant on one page and then a description of why the plant is "wicked" and some history about notable events that the plant has caused. Up in the top corner of the page it tells you a one word "why" of the plant's wickedness ("Destructive", "Deadly"). I liked these entries the best.

The second type of entry is a section on a certain general types of plant. For example there is a section on deadly houseplants. These sections have small sub-sections of different types of plants that they go through; no pictures. I have to mention the print is pretty small in these general sections, might be hard to read for some people. The two types of entries alternate.

The information is amusing and interesting, the etchings of the plants are beautiful; it is too bad they were not in color. I kind of wished that there were more interesting stories about individual plants. I really liked the entries on individual plants the best. I found myself skimming through the second type of entry (general entries briefly describing a ton of plants). These general sections didn't have any nice illustrations and shad very mall print and weren't nearly as interesting as the ones that focused on individual plants. I also thought the illustrations (not the etchings) left a bit to be desired; they were very amateurish and didn't add much to the book.

The book itself is a work of art. The pages are all on off-white paper that looks like vellum, and there is a pretty silk ribbon in the binding for you to mark your spot in the book with.

All in all I enjoyed the book. Not something you would read everyday but it would make a good coffee table book and it is interesting to read through the whole thing once. I am glad I read it. (less)

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Jan 22, 2010

Alyce (At Home With Books) rated it

Wicked Plants is a fascinating collection of facts and anecdotes about plants that are dangerous. The plants are listed alphabetically with the description of the plant features and their dangerous effects. Most listings are accompanied by an interesting story about how the plant has been harmful, and some contain a social history of the plants legality.

The biggest surprise for me while reading this book was how many common plants, even those we eat, have harmful effects. I learned t...moreWicked Plants is a fascinating collection of facts and anecdotes about plants that are dangerous. The plants are listed alphabetically with the description of the plant features and their dangerous effects. Most listings are accompanied by an interesting story about how the plant has been harmful, and some contain a social history of the plants legality.

The biggest surprise for me while reading this book was how many common plants, even those we eat, have harmful effects. I learned that cashews, for example, have to be steamed open. If the nut even touches the cashew shell it can cause someone to handles or eats it to break out in a rash. Another is celery, which contains phototoxic compounds.

"Farm workers and handlers of celery routinely get burns on their skin that show up under sunlight, and people who eat large quantities of celery are at risk as well. One medical journal cited a case of a woman who ate celery root and then went to a tanning booth, ending up with a severe sunburn." Page 96

The book covers a wide range of plants, from those that are developed into illegal drugs, such as coca (the source of cocaine) to common house and garden plants that are lethal. I was fascinated by the history of the usage of some plants, such as the coca plant and the kola nut, both the original ingredients in Coca-Cola.

". . . coca extract is still believed to be a flavoring, just without the cocaine alkaloid. The leaves are legally imported by an American manufacturer, which buys it from Peru's National Coca Company, transforms it into Coca-Cola's secret flavoring, and extracts the cocaine for pharmaceutical use as a topical anesthetic." Page 22

Each plant has its own small section, making it a book that is easy to pick up and read when you have a few spare moments. I had a hard time stopping myself from pestering my husband with some of the stories because there were so unusual.

The illustrations were lovely. I am not a plant expert, so I don't think I would actually be able to identify the plants from the monochromatic drawings, but they were nice to look at. There is also a ribbon bookmark built into the book, which I thought was a nice feature.

If you have any interest in plants, or simply have a morbid curiosity about the many ways that plants can hurt and kill you, then you should love this book.(less)

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Dec 09, 2009

Claire rated it

This book was loaned to me from a friend and I admit at first I was a bit sketch about it. While I have begun to learn and enjoy the art of gardening in the last few years, I am not really into all things plants. However, after I began reading it, I really loved it. As a matter of fact, I am going to buy the book for myself AND buy one for my mother (who IS a gardening lover). The book is well written and doesn't get too bogged down in the tiny boring details. Instead, it more focuses on all the...more

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Jun 26, 2009

Beth rated it

Amy Stewart, a self-proclaimed gardener and writer (not a botanist or scientist) presents, in alphabetical order, mini-biographies of botanical villains, weaving in pop culture, mythology, history, folklore, medicine, and law with botanical and biological information. The most captivating entries are the topical ones that were interspersed in the encyclopedic style, themed with "houseplants," "ragweeds," and "the devil's bartender," all about more common plants.
...moreAmy Stewart, a self-proclaimed gardener and writer (not a botanist or scientist) presents, in alphabetical order, mini-biographies of botanical villains, weaving in pop culture, mythology, history, folklore, medicine, and law with botanical and biological information. The most captivating entries are the topical ones that were interspersed in the encyclopedic style, themed with "houseplants," "ragweeds," and "the devil's bartender," all about more common plants.

While I love the concept, I was really bothered by the organization (maybe it's the librarian in me!). I would have found this more engaging arranged by the author's creative categories of Illegal, Painful, Intoxicating, Deadly...or even by plant family. There is no index, so the reader cannot get a list of all the nightshades, or search by a particular toxin.

The writing is fine - Stewart's ability to pack in a lot of really fascinating information in a small amount of space reminds me a little of Kathleen Krull, but less engaging. A glossary is lacking, along with source notes; the bibliographies are limited to books. A list of poisonous gardens is a whimsical touch.

From the poison green cover to the satiny maize colored bookmark, it's a nice package - good size, soft pages, consistent style, older fonts to give a grimoire sense to the volume. I love the botanical etchings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs, but these are much more successful than the images by Jonathan Rosen that are illustrative of the stories Stewart relays; the two styles didn't mesh for me.

All in all, Wicked Plants has a great hook, a catchy title and is a pretty package, but this doesn't feel like a book to read straight through. It assumes some knowledge about plants (like what an angiosperm is) because it's really directed at "gardeners & nature lovers." The A-Z organization make it feel more like a reference book than it is. The writing is good, but not over the top great. Those with morbid curiosity will be drawn to it (I already know who I'm going to pass my copy along to!) and I envision some students using this as a secondary resource for a report for Health or Biology, but the casualness of the book creates reservations for me; I like sources cited.

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Jan 08, 2012

Sue Smith rated it

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

This is the nicest presentation of a 'fact' book that I've seen for a long time.

First off .... I love the cover. That's just me- I love how it gives a sinister vibe, looks old and has a solemn, menacing appearance with the use of that intertwining thorny vine. Absolutely made me want to pick it up and open it. Also loved the golden ribbon stitched into the binding so you could mark your place - or the plant that you want to use on your next victim.

Next, I love the beautiful...more

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Aug 17, 2010

Jessi rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

Summary: A tree that sheds poison daggers; a glistening red seed that stops the heart; a shrub that causes paralysis; a vine that strangles; and a leaf that triggered a war. In Wicked Plants, Stewart takes on over two hundred of Mother Nature’s most appalling creations. It’s an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. You’ll learn which plants to avoid (like exploding shrubs), which plants make themselves exceedingly unwelcome (like the vine that ate the South), and wh...more

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Aug 13, 2009

Lauren rated it

Shelves: adventure, general-nonfiction, plants-flora, library-loan

A very interesting little reference book - the plants are grouped by how "wicked" they are: dangerous, intoxicating, illegal, etc. I learned several tidbits from it. Did you know that Bayer drug company was the first distributor of heroin from the opium poppy? It was on the market for years before they completely realized the effects of the drug.

The bit about the deadly nightshade berries crossed my mind when I went berry-picking this past weekend...

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Dec 12, 2011

Kam rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, science, historical

One of the many gifts I bemoan not having, including the talent for drawing and painting and a gift for singing, is the lack of a green thumb. This has not, of course, been for want of any attempts to cultivate it. My grandmother raised prize orchids in her garden when I was a very little girl, and she encouraged an interest in this (very fiddly) aspect of horticulture. Later on there were many attempts to grow vegetables and kitchen herbs in pots - none of which worked out. My mother often tell...moreOne of the many gifts I bemoan not having, including the talent for drawing and painting and a gift for singing, is the lack of a green thumb. This has not, of course, been for want of any attempts to cultivate it. My grandmother raised prize orchids in her garden when I was a very little girl, and she encouraged an interest in this (very fiddly) aspect of horticulture. Later on there were many attempts to grow vegetables and kitchen herbs in pots - none of which worked out. My mother often tells me: "Mainit ang kamay mo sa halaman." The literal translation of this is that I have "hot hands" when it comes to plants, but the actual meaning is that I simply do not have a green thumb.

But despite having no green thumb, I have a great appreciation for plants and gardens, and the people who have the gift of raising them. Fresh flowers are a joy, if a bit expensive in the tropical climate of the Philippines, and if I had a kitchen garden (or at least access to one) I think I would eat more fresh fruits and vegetables more often.

And there is no denying that plants are just interesting. Aside from the obvious aesthetic and culinary value many of them possess, there is no denying that they are important for more than just food and decoration. Many plants are the source of important medicinal compounds - aspirin, one of the most important over-the-counter painkillers, is derived from a compound found in willow bark, which itself was used as a painkiller in the form of willow bark tea. Digitalis is a compound derived from plants commonly called foxgloves, and helps in the treatment of irregular heart rate. And there are probably thousands more plant-derived compounds that have yet to be discovered, and which will undoubtedly play a role in the treatment of various diseases, chronic or otherwise, in the future.

But for all their potentially useful properties, there is also no denying that plants also kill. Digitalis, though helpful in controlling irregular heart rate, is a dangerous poison if ingested without supervision. Plants from the genus Colchicum, which include a variety of plants commonly known as crocuses (such as the autumn crocus) produce an alkaloid called colchicine, useful as a treatment for gout. However, that same alkaloid is a deadly poison: Catherine Wilson, a notorious 19th century murderer, used colchicine in just such a capacity to kill seven people - but not before getting those people to change their wills so that she would stand to benefit from their deaths.

It was because of these strange, and exceedingly interesting, connections between medicine, science, history, and plain out-and-out weirdness that I chose to pick up Amy Stewart's Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities. I will also admit that the spectacular, over-the-top title was part of the appeal: it's hard to think of an "atrocity" being "botanical," but Stewart is quick to prove that there are sometimes, the most innocuous-looking plants might also be the deadliest.

Wicked Plants is, in essence, an encyclopedia: an organized collection of information about some of the deadliest plants Stewart thought would be worth mentioning. In the introduction ominously titled "Consider Yourself Warned," Stewart clarifies that her book is not meant to scare people out of enjoying the outdoors or gardening, but is meant to act as a field guide for those who do enjoy such pursuits. This bears itself out in the entries: while Stewart is always quick to point out the obvious dangers of such plants as poison ivy (which isn't really a species of ivy) and deadly nightshade, she also includes some less notable (but no less deadly) examples, such as the castor bean and the habanero chili. Also included as "deadly" are the plants that have given humanity some of the most addictive drugs currently known, such as tobacco (though it is included for reasons other than just smoking) and the opium poppy, as well as invasive species such as the kudzu vine and the water hyacinth.

Supplementing the wealth of information that Stewart provides are the lovely etchings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs and illustrations by Jonathan Rosen. They give Wicked Plants a vastly different feel compared to some of the other plant encyclopedias currently available, hearkening back to the old-fashioned botanical illustrations that dominated similar texts from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But the etchings and illustrations are so well done, with great attention paid to detail, that it doesn't really matter that these are hand-drawn illustrations and not glossy photographs. Morrow-Cribbs' etchings, in particular, are simply a joy to look at: a clear illustration of how science and art are really kin to each other, a reminder that for science to advance, it must look upon the world with the wonder of an artist's eye, and for art to advance, it must approach the craft with the discipline of a scientist.

This book was as informative and enjoyable as I had hoped it would be, despite its focus on plants in temperate climes. This is only natural, as this book was obviously intended for readers in temperate climes, and in that sense it functions just fine as a field guide. A few exotic tropical species are included, but it is apparent these made the book only because they are particularly grotesque or particularly lethal. The inclusion of invasive species as dangerous plants is a fine idea, in my opinion, especially considering what invasive species are doing to native species, both in North America and elsewhere.

As a whole, this was a very enjoyable, educational read. The illustrations are lovely, and the text informative without being overly technical or mind-numbingly boring. While it is fun enough to read it for its own sake as a popular-science text, it also functions quite well for the purpose Stewart intended it: a guide to poisonous plants, a means of gaining knowledge to protect oneself and those one cares for. That it educates while entertaining is merely the icing on the cake.(less)

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Jul 12, 2011

bonny rated it

Shelves: listened-to, non-fiction

Wicked Plants is an interesting idea for a book, but one of the reasons for my 2 star rating is that I listened to the audiobook rather than reading the actual book. As an audiobook, this becomes just a list of possibly dangerous plants; in fact, I question why it was even released in audio format. Wicked Plants desperately needs pictures, and the actual book does contain etchings of some of the plants.

I think the other big thing missing in this book is a better explanation of "...more

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Jan 02, 2010

Valeria rated it

For information & entertainment purposes I give this little book a "5 star" rating.

Who knew that a simple stroll through your local woods, or even your own home, could be so deadly? There is a reason why your mother was always telling you "not to put that in your mouth" when you were a kid and why it is still true today. It could kill you, or at the very least leave you with a butt kicking that you will always remember.

So when I received “Wicked Pla...moreFor information & entertainment purposes I give this little book a "5 star" rating.

Who knew that a simple stroll through your local woods, or even your own home, could be so deadly? There is a reason why your mother was always telling you "not to put that in your mouth" when you were a kid and why it is still true today. It could kill you, or at the very least leave you with a butt kicking that you will always remember.

So when I received “Wicked Plants” in the mail last week, I was pleasantly surprised by this little book that I accidentally got for "free" from my book club. I had been browsing for several other books when I saw this book advertised in the corner of the page. It said "The weed that killed Lincoln's mother" and I clicked on it out of curiosity. Somehow I ended up ordering it and was going to send it back until I saw that the billing for it was $0.00. However, I think it would be worth paying for the book simply for the information it provides in one, small, bound volume.

At 236 pages (small pages at that) including credits and bibliography, this little green book is a must for people who are interested in how the plant world has taken up arms against itself and the human race. With everything from arrow poisons like Curare (used throughout South America and probably the best known one to those who learned about the wild tribes down there in their 1970's Social Studies class) to the common Cashew nut, that if not properly processed can be deadly (which is why you never see a cashew in its shell in the grocery store) to a simple houseplant like a Peace Lily or Philodendron, both of which are deadly to animals that nibble on them out of shear boredom and curious children that feel like they need to snack between meals.
Amy Stewart has a love and respect for the deadly curiosities in the botanical realm. Her writing comes across as very informed and slightly in awe of the ability of a plant to defend itself, spread its roots and silently try to take over the world. I would suggest this book for anyone with even the smallest interest in deadly, annoying or interesting plants.

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Oct 01, 2009

Elizabeth Scott rated it

Let me tell you, I knew there were some deadly plants out there, but wow.

It's probably weird to call this a fun read, but it really is--I mean, where else are you going to find out that Bayer actually introduced heroin (even came up with the name!), which was sold as a cough syrup for about ten years before being taken off the market.

Or how about the fact that Charles Julius Guiteau (who shot President James Garfield), was given a bouquet of flowers by his sister on the...more

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Jan 13, 2010

Emma Cooper rated it

Shelves: gardening

Although this book is fascinating, it’s a little too detailed to make it a light read. It would make a great coffee table book to dip into, or an interesting reference book for the shelf.

Amy’s definition of ‘wicked’ is quite broad – not all of the plants are poisonous. Although she starts with plants used to produce arrow poisons, she moves on to intoxicating and narcotic plants, invasive weeds and carnivorous plants, and those that enslave animals (and humans) to spread their seeds ...more

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Jul 19, 2011

Helen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Possibly the most interesting book related to gardening ever.
So many plants and flowers featured here have the most wonderful names, some delightful (the Rosary Pea, Finger Cherry and Angel's Trumpet), others clearly named so as to warn you of their nastiness (such as Ratbane, the 'poison that keeps on killing'), but all are potentially dangerous, and often fatal.
It was very interesting to learn how plants have interacted with social history, one notable example being the Peacock Fl...more

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Oct 02, 2010

Leigh-ann rated it

The presentation of this book is lovely, from the interesting smaller size to the wonderful graphics and dark images on each page. The contents of the book are easy to digest (no pun intended regarding poisonous plants) and many of them fit the "good to know" category, so it's something you'll enjoy reading *and* you'll learn important things in the process. My main criticism of the book (and the reason for the 3 star review) was the amount of redundancy. There are too many "wi...more

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Sep 17, 2011

Intplibrarian rated it

Could have been exponentially better if only it had had pictures! I kept referring to Wikipedia while reading the book to get an idea of what each plant looked like and where it was usually found, but that gets tiresome.[return][return]I really love this kind of book. Small blurbs that are just enough to get you interested in looking up more information sometimes... but I don't want to do it for each and every entry![return][return]The book is a lot of fun to read. As a fan of books like The Boo...more

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Nov 30, 2010

Cheryl rated it

This is a rather good reference if you want to prevent the untoward for your pets, your children and yourself. I've found it useful for my second novel (admitting to the poisoning of a secondary character) in finding an obscure plant local to the region of my mystery series. It provided a source, but I had to do some further research to be certain of the particulars, such as the toxins that the plant delivers and whether my detectives can test for it (in the case of the plant in question, easi...more

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Aug 31, 2011

Heidi rated it

I read this book at the same time as The Poison Diaries because I thought it might help give me some more background on the plants mentioned in the novel. I'm glad I did, and thought it was fitting that the Alnwick Poison Gardens (those featured in/inspiring The Poison Diaries) were mentioned at the end of this book as "surely the best place in the world to see wicked plants". The book was fascinating, a quick, easy read, and the author did a great job of telling you what was interes...more

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Jul 13, 2009

Clockstein Lockstein rated it

Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart is a fascinating if slightly creepy look at poisonous and harmful plants, some that may be in your yard, house, or even in your refrigerator ! First of all, I have to say I love the feel of this book. Too many publishers have forgotten that part of the joy of reading is holding the volume in your hands. Plants is a small hardcover without dust jacket with engraving on the front cover giving it the feel of a late 19th century volume; it even has a ribbon bookmark! It ...more

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Mar 28, 2011

Margarite rated it

Wicked Plants was so much fun to read. The perfect combination of educational and horrifying. It's broken up into bite-sized chapters and you WILL be tempted read each one out loud to the unsuspecting person reading quietly beside you.

Take, for example, the section on yew trees. All parts of the plant are poisonous (except, curiously, for the berries) and they're popular in churchyards in the UK. When a yew tree that was several hundred years old fell over in an English graveyard i...more

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Jan 24, 2010

Jen3n rated it

Shelves: favorites, non-fiction

What a lovely, funny, informative little book. A small encyclopedia of plants from around the world with particularly interesting side effects. Like severe hallucinations. Or death.

Also included in this book along with botanical name and description and information about each of these plants, is a great deal of humorous and informative trivia on the history or and cultural significance of the use of these plants.

I really enjoyed this. It's not for everyone. Some people w...more

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Nov 26, 2009

Valary O rated it

There were two things I liked about this book. First, I enjoy stories and the book is a series of little mini-stories about different plants. Everything is brief, at times a little too brief, but enough to tickle your senses and get you to follow up on the topic if you're really interested. The other thing was the book itself. I like the look of it. This is definitely a book that wouldn't play as well virtually. The paper looks like handmade paper with the flecks of different colored fibers. And...more

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Jul 09, 2011

Liz rated it

Recommended to Liz by: http://shockthebourgeois.blogspot.com/20...

Shelves: non-fiction

A diverting subject, but the delivery wasn't as entertaining as I expected. It fell on the line between diverting read and reference book. The only thing it needed to be a reference book was an index (which it could have benefited from, because not all the plants mentioned in the book were listed in the table of contents), better pictures (I still don't know what most of the plants look like), and slightly more scientific descriptions. Besides that the anecdotes and little bits of history were i...more

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Oct 03, 2011

Vicky rated it

Shelves: nonfiction, gardening

An interesting read. After completing this book, I will probably never, ever eat plants in the wild. A particularly memorable story involved a Scottish tailor eating a sandwich made with wild greens his children collected. Unfortunately, the children confused parsley with poison hemlock. The author writes, "It was the last (and, one suspects, the only) lesson in botany the children ever got from their father..." He was dead within a few hours.

The entry for each plant is ...more

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Jun 28, 2011

Brynn rated it

Shelves: reference

This book is not only incredibly interesting, but also quite useful. Not all of the plants described within its pages are strange exotic plants; many of them are household, landscaping, and nursery plants.

Wicked Plants not only describes the side effects and symptoms of ingesting or contact with the plants, but explains the interesting history behind the plants, including stories on the plants effects, wars, and horror stories.

Seriously, even if you don't like plants, you...more

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Jul 29, 2011

Erin Panjer added it

There was a wide variety of plants in this book with fun facts and history about a good number of them. Some descriptions were too brief for my liking, with an obvious bias of discouraging drug use. For instance, Salvia Divinorum (Diviners Sage) she talks only of how the experience is usually brief and very unpleasant and it's illegal in most states. But not that the people who have those experiences must have inhaled strong Salvia extracts, and that the plant itself is not so potent. Chewing t...more

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Aug 13, 2011

Jennifer rated it

I liked this book, but I was a little bogged down by the lists of different plants and the possible ill effects they can cause. I really liked the historical stories surrounding different plants, and wish the book was more of that. Also, I am now pretty frightened of most plants, kind of suspicious of the single house plant we own, and pretty much don't want to ever walk in the forest preserve again. Not that I was a huge plant lover or walker in the preserves previously--this is just giving ...more

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About Amy Stewart

Amy Stewart lives in northern California. Her essays and commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Garden Design, Organic Gardening, and elsewhere. She's been featured on NPR, Good Morning America and CBS Sunday Morning.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) granted her a Creative Writing Fellowship for 2006, and she's the winner of the California H...more

More about Amy Stewart...

Books by Amy Stewart

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title link	preview: Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities
avg rating	preview: Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities Goodreads rating: 3.81 (1105 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6106482-wicked-plants?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255884500m/6106482.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6106482-wicked-plants?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart[/url]

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities

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