Dangerous Plants

Murder mysteries… poisonous potions… mind altering… wily witchcraft… crime-solving… hedgerow pleasures… perilous industries… plant pursuing. Plants have the capacity to hold secrets, kill, enchant, thrill, heal, harm, entice and nourish.

Join Frances Tophill to discover the diverse world of dangerous plants.

Episode 8 - Witchcraft's botanical magic

Folklore, superstition, mysterious magic and herbal remedies are all aspects of a witch’s garden. We uncover the bewitching nature of plants with practicing witch Rebecca Beattie.

Episode 7 - The dangers that lurk in our flower beds

Intoxicating, narcotic and psychoactive plants alter our minds. What dangerous plants lurk in our flower beds? Frances talks to Tom Pattinson from the Alnwick Poison Garden.

Episode 6 - Agatha Christie's poisonous plants

Deadly potions, poison, murder and intrigue – dangerous plants were used in many of Agatha Christie’s novels to great effect. Frances talks to Ali Marshall, Head Gardener at Torre Abbey and the Potent Plants Garden, about the plants that Christie exploited to great effect.

Episode 5 - How to forage and not die

Toxic plants, deadly fungi and mistaken identity in the hedgerows can all lead to unpleasant consequences. We discover how to avoid fatal foraging with UK forager James Wood.

Episode 4 - The cost of cotton

Threatening human life, natural resources and biodiversity, the cotton plant, has wreaked havoc over the years. Frances talks to Dr Cassandra Gooptar, Lecturer in Legacies of Slavery at the University of Hull, and Environmental Sustainability expert Inemesit Ukpanah.

Episode 3 - The dark side of plant hunting

Many of the plants in our gardens and parks were introduced by plant hunters in the 18th and 19th centuries. What is the appeal of plant hunting now and how dangerous is it? Frances talks to horticulturalist, author and plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke.

Episode 2 - Plants that kill and cure

Deadly plants can be the source of great cures, but how can a plant that is poisonous also heal us? Frances is joined by Dr Sarah Edwards, Plant Records Officer at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, and Ethnobotanist.

Episode 1 - Plants that solve crimes

Missing people, crimes and murders. How do plants play a role in crime scene investigations? Frances talks to Forensic Botanist Dr Mark Spencer.