Tennessee’s Toxic Plants

Learn to spot Tennessee’s most common toxic plants through hands-on identification and engage in activities to learn about their phytotoxins.
This two‑hour, hands‑on class will introduce you to some of Tennessee’s common toxic plants. You will learn key identifying features, practice quick field sketches, and discuss when processing can render some foraged species edible (and when plants are simply never safe to eat).
In the first hour, we will cover a variety of plants and their toxic components so you will be prepared to recognize them in the wild. The second hour we’ll cover some ethnobotanical history, look at how some of these toxic plants are safely processed and used in traditional Appalachian foodways, and we’ll end with a group cooking activity that will demonstrate not all parts of a toxic plant are toxic.
You’ll leave with a set of toxic plant ID cards, a small sketch journal, a bottle of infused simple syrup, and the confidence to safely explore Tennessee’s beautiful and unique landscape.