Couple's 'pretty looking plant' turns out to be psychedelic killer weed

A killer weed outlawed in America after being blamed for the death of several teenagers has popped up in a Chessington couple’s garden. The plant first appeared in Marilyn and Tony Bagshaw’s plot in Green Lane about four weeks ago and has already grown to a height of about 3ft (0.9m).

At first the couple ignored the plant, but after becoming curious about its origins, Mrs Bagshaw decided to search the internet and was shocked with what she discovered. She found the “pretty looking plant” was in fact Datura stramonium, a thorn apple also known as devil’s trumpet, devil’s weed or stink weed. It bears spiky fruit, poisonous flowers and seeds that can cause hallucinations, hypothermia and painful photophobia that can last several days.

Mrs Bagshaw said: "I was shocked when I found out this pretty plant growing in the back garden was in fact a drug killing teenagers in America. It seems to be a very international drug because they use it in China and also in Mexico to relive labour pains but apparently it is very rare to found it in England. I want to throw it away but apparently if the seeds spill I could have a whole drug farm on my hands and so I want to make sure I know how to do it properly.”

Jill Turner, a plant expert at Kew Gardens said she thought the plant was spread because bird-feed manufacturers were adding its seeds to their mix and said the rising number of photographs sent in for identification suggested it was becoming widespread. She said it should be removed carefully using gloves and burned thoroughly. To stop it spreading, the seed heads should be removed before they dry out and burst.