Recently, many incidents of people being bitten by snakes — even leading to fatal poisoning — have been reported. For this reason, experts warn that you should never try to catch or play with snakes. More importantly, certain plants around your home can attract snakes, increasing the risk of danger. If you have any of the plants below, it’s best to remove them right away.

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Plants You Should Never Grow Because They Attract Snakes

Traditional knowledge and observations from local communities show that several types of plants naturally attract snakes. These include:

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1. Oldenlandia diffusa (White-flowered snake-tongue grass)

Also known as snake-tongue herb, this plant grows year-round in moist, shaded areas, along roadsides, and in wet soil. It is commonly found throughout Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam.
Where this plant appears, snakes are often not far behind.

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2. Plumbago zeylanica (White leadtree / Snow-white flower plant)

Also called white peacock tail or bạch hoa xà, this herb thrives in humid, cool environments.
Although it is a valuable medicinal plant — used to treat skin inflammation, gallstones, hepatitis, and even tumors — its scent is known to strongly attract snakes.
If grown near a home, it may unintentionally invite snakes to approach.

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3. Garcinia cochinchinensis (Purple garcinia / Sa nhân tím)

When its fruit ripens, it becomes a favorite food of rodents, squirrels, porcupines, and other small animals. Snakes naturally follow these animals as prey.
This plant usually grows in clusters near streams, forests, and shaded, damp areas.
During fruiting season, snakes often gather to hunt, making these areas particularly dangerous.

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4. Fragrant flowering plants

Some aromatic plants also tend to draw snakes, including:

• Telosma cordata (Tonkin creeper / Hoa thiên lý)

• Jasmine

• Native scented herbs

• Morning glory vines (bìm bìm)

However, when these plants are heavily treated with chemical fertilizers or pesticides, snakes are less likely to approach.