Lovely but very poisonous - Mountain Laurel

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Kalmia latifolia, the mountain laurel (calico-bush, or spoonwood) is native to the eastern United States. Although it is beautiful, every part of the plant is poisonous to several animals, including horses, goats, cattle, deer, monkeys, and humans. The toxins are strongest in the young shoots and leaves, so it is important to wash hands thoroughly after handling the plant. When ingested, the neurotoxins (grayanotoxins) attack the central nervous system leading to lowered blood pressure, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, drooling, general weakness, and convulsion. Deaths have occurred from excessive consumption of honey produced by bees from the flowers and the nectar of this and other grayanotoxin producing plants ("mad honey"). Mad honey is actually cultivated and used medicinally, but it is primarily sought as an aphrodisiac, the effect of which is often called "honey intoxication" and has been known since 400BCE. I live north enough in Florida to enjoy mountain laurel's beauty in my neighborhood, but I appreciate it from a distance.