Is The Poison Fruit In The White Lotus Real?

The White Lotus’ creator Mike White sprinkled seeds of foreshadowing surrounding Thailand’s fateful pong pong tree in the very first episode of season 3. ‘We do have lots of amazing fruit here, but I wouldn’t eat that,’ hotel worker Pam warns Saxon Ratcliff (Patrick Schwarzenegger). ‘That is the fruit of the mighty pong pong tree, and the seeds of the fruit are toxic.’ This fruit comes to be one of the most significant emblems of the series, culminating in a near-death experience for the season’s central family. 

After fantasising about killing his wife and kids to save them from the consequences of his money laundering mess, Tim Ratcliff (Jason Isaacs) eventually decides to poison them with the seeds of the pong pong tree’s fruit. He blends them up and dishes them out under the guise of pina coladas, but changes his mind at the last minute. However, youngest son Lachlan (Sam Nivola) later swoops in and uses the blender, which still contains the poisonous fruit. He is sick and passes out, going on to make a shock revival after being found by his father. But is the so-called ‘suicide tree’ real?

Does The White Lotus’ Deadly Pong Pong Fruit Exist?

Yes, pong pong trees – or Cerbera odollam – are a poisonous plant native to Southeast Asia and belonging to the dogbane plant family, common in places like Thailand, India and the Pacific Islands. 

All parts of the tree are poisonous, but the large seeds are the most dangerous part, as they contain a deadly compound called cerberin. Also found in plants like foxglove and oleander, cerberin can be fatal, even in small doses. The toxin attacks a pump in the heart, with research suggesting as little as one seed can kill you, with vomiting and nausea typically the first signs of poisoning – as seen in Lochlan’s reaction. Survival depends on how much is consumed, hence Lochlan living to tell the tale.

Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon & Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff in The White Lotus season 3. (HBO)

The ‘suicide tree’ nickname is, sadly, also real. Pong pong fruit has long history of use in suicide and murders, with a 2004 finding the tree responsible for around half of plant poisoning cases in Kerala, India between the years of 1989 and 1999. 

Historically, the fruit was also used in trials as a way of determining the guilt or innocence of people accused of witchcraft. The theory was that if they were guilty, they would die from eating the fruit, but if they were innocent they would be saved from supernatural intervention. Thankfully this was scrapped in the early 20th century. Nowadays, in places where the tree is prevalent, locals and visitors are educated about its dangers, so no need to worry if you’re jetting off on a Thai holiday this year.

All episodes of The White Lotus are available to stream on NOW