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list of poisonous plants
Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... H Ryder wrote: I know that lots of plants are described as "poisonous" when in fact they just give you a bit of a bad tummy, whilst others can be fatal. I have small children so am trying to rid the garden of anythign fatal to them but do not mind the "bad tummy" plants. Does anyone know where I can find out just how poisonous plants are? Am especially interested in Daphnes as I'd love to have one but have avoided getting one as they seem "very poisonous" but I am not sure of this. Also please let me know of any common plant which is fatal to children - I know of Lords and Ladies (Acorus calamus ) and nightshade but am not sure of others. (I also know that I can tell them not to eat anything but that does not work in a garden full of raspberries etc - they know that they can eat some stuff ) The RHS site has a pdf file of poisonous plants, though it's probably easier to list what is NOT poisonous. http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/docum..._e_harmful.pdf If it's any consolation to you, I'm pretty certain there have been no reported deaths from plant poisoning in absolutely years and years. I can't say it's something I ever worried about with my children and they seem to have survived. However, I would say that while you might well want to avoid certain plants that are poisonous if ingested, I'd be at least as cautious, if not more so, about plants whose sap or leaves can irritate the skin. We no longer sell Rue here, because a customer who had bought it from us and had it for a year, had read but ignored or forgotten that the label warned it's a considerable skin irritant to some people. She complained bitterly and made a really huge fuss and it's just not worth the risk for us. Another plant to beware of (though you're unlikely to grow it deliberately!) is Giant Hogweed. Euphorbia sap is very irritating to some skins and even daffodils can have the same effect. This is another useful site http://www.gardensearch.co.uk/harmfulplants.htm and its introduction says "The following list of potentially harmful plants has been based on information contained in the Horticultural Retailers Code of Practice. The Code is compiled by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) who have worked with the Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. " -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Those are useful links --thanks. Are you getting at me by saying no one would deliberately grow Giant Hogweed:-) Heracleum mantegazzianum , a grand name for a plant. I grow the odd one each year. Yes it can irritate the skin but it's not life threatening. I believe it's main claim to fame is that it seeds prolifically and is invasive. I have seen this plant grown as a solitary specimen at several of the stately homes-so perhaps one just outside your tea room would look nice:-) You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed "the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. I think not. My apologies, Nick. You were right. One guess as to who this poster is. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon |
#2
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list of poisonous plants
You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed
"the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. just to clarify it is me (Hayley) concerned about the children down in Somerset and Rupert (in Yorkshire) growing the hogweed -- Hayley (gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset) |
#3
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list of poisonous plants
"H Ryder" wrote in message ... You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed "the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. just to clarify it is me (Hayley) concerned about the children down in Somerset and Rupert (in Yorkshire) growing the hogweed -- Hayley (gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset) Ah I see--you are confused by the Sacha post also? I do like children really it's just that I like Hogweed even more. |
#4
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list of poisonous plants
"Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... H Ryder wrote: I know that lots of plants are described as "poisonous" when in fact they just give you a bit of a bad tummy, whilst others can be fatal. I have small children so am trying to rid the garden of anythign fatal to them but do not mind the "bad tummy" plants. Does anyone know where I can find out just how poisonous plants are? Am especially interested in Daphnes as I'd love to have one but have avoided getting one as they seem "very poisonous" but I am not sure of this. Also please let me know of any common plant which is fatal to children - I know of Lords and Ladies (Acorus calamus ) and nightshade but am not sure of others. (I also know that I can tell them not to eat anything but that does not work in a garden full of raspberries etc - they know that they can eat some stuff ) The RHS site has a pdf file of poisonous plants, though it's probably easier to list what is NOT poisonous. http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/docum..._e_harmful.pdf If it's any consolation to you, I'm pretty certain there have been no reported deaths from plant poisoning in absolutely years and years. I can't say it's something I ever worried about with my children and they seem to have survived. However, I would say that while you might well want to avoid certain plants that are poisonous if ingested, I'd be at least as cautious, if not more so, about plants whose sap or leaves can irritate the skin. We no longer sell Rue here, because a customer who had bought it from us and had it for a year, had read but ignored or forgotten that the label warned it's a considerable skin irritant to some people. She complained bitterly and made a really huge fuss and it's just not worth the risk for us. Another plant to beware of (though you're unlikely to grow it deliberately!) is Giant Hogweed. Euphorbia sap is very irritating to some skins and even daffodils can have the same effect. This is another useful site http://www.gardensearch.co.uk/harmfulplants.htm and its introduction says "The following list of potentially harmful plants has been based on information contained in the Horticultural Retailers Code of Practice. The Code is compiled by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) who have worked with the Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. " -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Those are useful links --thanks. Are you getting at me by saying no one would deliberately grow Giant Hogweed:-) Heracleum mantegazzianum , a grand name for a plant. I grow the odd one each year. Yes it can irritate the skin but it's not life threatening. I believe it's main claim to fame is that it seeds prolifically and is invasive. I have seen this plant grown as a solitary specimen at several of the stately homes-so perhaps one just outside your tea room would look nice:-) You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed "the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. I think not. My apologies, Nick. You were right. One guess as to who this poster is. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Tis me Rupert. I do not claim to be a novice gardener. Yep I do grow the odd one each year and yes I am concerned about the safety of anyone but as I said the sap is not life threatening. With whom were you and Nick (Maclaren?) confusing me with. |
#5
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list of poisonous plants
Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... H Ryder wrote: I know that lots of plants are described as "poisonous" when in fact they just give you a bit of a bad tummy, whilst others can be fatal. I have small children so am trying to rid the garden of anythign fatal to them but do not mind the "bad tummy" plants. Does anyone know where I can find out just how poisonous plants are? Am especially interested in Daphnes as I'd love to have one but have avoided getting one as they seem "very poisonous" but I am not sure of this. Also please let me know of any common plant which is fatal to children - I know of Lords and Ladies (Acorus calamus ) and nightshade but am not sure of others. (I also know that I can tell them not to eat anything but that does not work in a garden full of raspberries etc - they know that they can eat some stuff ) The RHS site has a pdf file of poisonous plants, though it's probably easier to list what is NOT poisonous. http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/docum..._e_harmful.pdf If it's any consolation to you, I'm pretty certain there have been no reported deaths from plant poisoning in absolutely years and years. I can't say it's something I ever worried about with my children and they seem to have survived. However, I would say that while you might well want to avoid certain plants that are poisonous if ingested, I'd be at least as cautious, if not more so, about plants whose sap or leaves can irritate the skin. We no longer sell Rue here, because a customer who had bought it from us and had it for a year, had read but ignored or forgotten that the label warned it's a considerable skin irritant to some people. She complained bitterly and made a really huge fuss and it's just not worth the risk for us. Another plant to beware of (though you're unlikely to grow it deliberately!) is Giant Hogweed. Euphorbia sap is very irritating to some skins and even daffodils can have the same effect. This is another useful site http://www.gardensearch.co.uk/harmfulplants.htm and its introduction says "The following list of potentially harmful plants has been based on information contained in the Horticultural Retailers Code of Practice. The Code is compiled by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) who have worked with the Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. " -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Those are useful links --thanks. Are you getting at me by saying no one would deliberately grow Giant Hogweed:-) Heracleum mantegazzianum , a grand name for a plant. I grow the odd one each year. Yes it can irritate the skin but it's not life threatening. I believe it's main claim to fame is that it seeds prolifically and is invasive. I have seen this plant grown as a solitary specimen at several of the stately homes-so perhaps one just outside your tea room would look nice:-) You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed "the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. I think not. My apologies, Nick. You were right. One guess as to who this poster is. Tis me Rupert. I do not claim to be a novice gardener. Yep I do grow the odd one each year and yes I am concerned about the safety of anyone but as I said the sap is not life threatening. With whom were you and Nick (Maclaren?) confusing me with. I must apologise to Hayley. I read your post as coming from her and as a couple of other trolls here have made constant slighting references to our tea room etc., I thought it was one of them up to their old tricks. However, you say that the sap isn't life-threatening but that is one of the most toxic plants going. A friend of ours ended up in hospital after contact with it. He had horrible blisters and three years later, the areas of his skin affected, still react badly to exposure to sunlight. It's definitely not a plant to take lightly or to recommend to others, IMO. Anyway, Hayley, I'm sorry - that was a mistake on my part. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon |
#6
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list of poisonous plants
"Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... Rupert (W.Yorkshire) wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message oups.com... H Ryder wrote: I know that lots of plants are described as "poisonous" when in fact they just give you a bit of a bad tummy, whilst others can be fatal. I have small children so am trying to rid the garden of anythign fatal to them but do not mind the "bad tummy" plants. Does anyone know where I can find out just how poisonous plants are? Am especially interested in Daphnes as I'd love to have one but have avoided getting one as they seem "very poisonous" but I am not sure of this. Also please let me know of any common plant which is fatal to children - I know of Lords and Ladies (Acorus calamus ) and nightshade but am not sure of others. (I also know that I can tell them not to eat anything but that does not work in a garden full of raspberries etc - they know that they can eat some stuff ) The RHS site has a pdf file of poisonous plants, though it's probably easier to list what is NOT poisonous. http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/docum..._e_harmful.pdf If it's any consolation to you, I'm pretty certain there have been no reported deaths from plant poisoning in absolutely years and years. I can't say it's something I ever worried about with my children and they seem to have survived. However, I would say that while you might well want to avoid certain plants that are poisonous if ingested, I'd be at least as cautious, if not more so, about plants whose sap or leaves can irritate the skin. We no longer sell Rue here, because a customer who had bought it from us and had it for a year, had read but ignored or forgotten that the label warned it's a considerable skin irritant to some people. She complained bitterly and made a really huge fuss and it's just not worth the risk for us. Another plant to beware of (though you're unlikely to grow it deliberately!) is Giant Hogweed. Euphorbia sap is very irritating to some skins and even daffodils can have the same effect. This is another useful site http://www.gardensearch.co.uk/harmfulplants.htm and its introduction says "The following list of potentially harmful plants has been based on information contained in the Horticultural Retailers Code of Practice. The Code is compiled by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) who have worked with the Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. " -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Those are useful links --thanks. Are you getting at me by saying no one would deliberately grow Giant Hogweed:-) Heracleum mantegazzianum , a grand name for a plant. I grow the odd one each year. Yes it can irritate the skin but it's not life threatening. I believe it's main claim to fame is that it seeds prolifically and is invasive. I have seen this plant grown as a solitary specimen at several of the stately homes-so perhaps one just outside your tea room would look nice:-) You claim to be a novice gardener but says that you grow Giant Hogweed "the odd one each year". But you want us to believe you're concerned about the safety of children. Hmmmmm. I think not. My apologies, Nick. You were right. One guess as to who this poster is. Tis me Rupert. I do not claim to be a novice gardener. Yep I do grow the odd one each year and yes I am concerned about the safety of anyone but as I said the sap is not life threatening. With whom were you and Nick (Maclaren?) confusing me with. I must apologise to Hayley. I read your post as coming from her and as a couple of other trolls here have made constant slighting references to our tea room etc., I thought it was one of them up to their old tricks. However, you say that the sap isn't life-threatening but that is one of the most toxic plants going. A friend of ours ended up in hospital after contact with it. He had horrible blisters and three years later, the areas of his skin affected, still react badly to exposure to sunlight. It's definitely not a plant to take lightly or to recommend to others, IMO. Anyway, Hayley, I'm sorry - that was a mistake on my part. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon Ah that explains that thanks. I hope Nick also understands the confusion. I shall in future refer to your refreshment room as a cafe:-) I do agree with the potential dangers of Hogweed but as I said earlier the sap is not life threatening and could not be described as highly toxic in the sense of causing death which is what I thought Hayley was asking. Agreed that I would not recommend it as a child/anyone friendly plant. |
#7
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list of poisonous plants
In article .com, "Sacha" writes: | | However, you say that the sap isn't life-threatening but that is one | of the most toxic plants going. A friend of ours ended up in hospital | after contact with it. He had horrible blisters and three years later, | the areas of his skin affected, still react badly to exposure to | sunlight. It's definitely not a plant to take lightly or to recommend | to others, IMO. Anyway, Hayley, I'm sorry - that was a mistake on my | part. I would (and did) take the "chemical burn" plants more seriously than the "poisonous" ones. If a child gets the sap on its hands, and rubs its eyes, that could be VERY bad news. And that is actually a likely scenario, unlike a child munching random unpalatable leaves, digging up and eating roots etc. Unfortunately, there are a fair number of such plants. Giant hogweed is one; all sumachs and euphorbias are others - and the last include petty spurge (a very common weed) and the house plant "poinsettia". Also periwinkles, but mere touch isn't enough to reach the sap. Incidentally, I never did confuse Hayley with anyone, but did (and do) feel that she should and could have checked in a book or elsewhere on the Web to find out that quinces are NOT poisonous. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#8
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list of poisonous plants
In article .com,
"Sacha" writes: | | However, you say that the sap isn't life-threatening but that is one | of the most toxic plants going. A friend of ours ended up in hospital | after contact with it. He had horrible blisters and three years later, | the areas of his skin affected, still react badly to exposure to | sunlight. It's definitely not a plant to take lightly or to recommend I would (and did) take the "chemical burn" plants more seriously than the "poisonous" ones. If a child gets the sap on its hands, and rubs its eyes, that could be VERY bad news. And that is actually a likely scenario, I agree wholeheartedly that plants capable of inflicting serious pain and/or permanent skin or eye damage are too dangerous to grow in a garden where children will play. Fortunately there are not too many of them. But even things like hyacinth bulbs can afflict sensitive skins. I managed to get sensitised to sedum spectabile sap by some mishap. unlike a child munching random unpalatable leaves, digging up and eating roots etc. Though the handful of seriously deadly plants where the flower or fruits are potentially lethal in low doses (colchicum or autumn crocus and oleander) are also worth avoiding. The list I posted that you complained about was over cautious, but AFAICT it did contain most of the nasty ones classified as nasty (but also some pretty harmless ones falsely accused). Unfortunately, there are a fair number of such plants. Giant hogweed is one; all sumachs and euphorbias are others - and the last include petty spurge (a very common weed) and the house plant "poinsettia". You will have the Poinsettia society after your scalp. As far as is known the toxicity of euphorbia pulcherrima or Poinsettia is pretty much an urban legend that has never been confirmed in any independent toxological trials. See for example: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/e...0/art1nov.html Most cultivars of E. pulcherrima lack the nasty diterpenes present in the vicious ones. But I would still not want their sap in my eyes. I once made that mistake after stringing chillis... Euphorbia virosa at the other extreme is so dangerous that eye protection is essential when handling it. The sap jets out under pressure when the plant is damaged in fine threads. Most euphorbias are somewhere inbetween. Desert ones are usually much nastier. http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/198900028.html Fortunately in the UK we do not have the really dermatologically vicious sumacs like poison oak and ivy or the Japanese lacquer tree. Also periwinkles, but mere touch isn't enough to reach the sap. A rough and ready rule for handling plant cuttings is never trust anything with a milky sap. Lettuce is the obvious exception. And always wash your hands... Regards, Martin Brown |
#9
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list of poisonous plants
In article . com, writes: | | I agree wholeheartedly that plants capable of inflicting serious pain | and/or permanent skin or eye damage are too dangerous to grow in a | garden where children will play. Fortunately there are not too many of | them. ... Agreed. | Though the handful of seriously deadly plants where the flower or | fruits are potentially lethal in low doses (colchicum or autumn crocus | and oleander) are also worth avoiding. The list I posted that you | complained about was over cautious, but AFAICT it did contain most of | the nasty ones classified as nasty (but also some pretty harmless ones | falsely accused). Oleander, yes, though it isn't really a UK plant. But would a child really eat colchicum? The risk must be lower than having an aircraft fall on its head. That list omits a large number of seriously poisonous plants which have caused deaths - e.g. beans (Phaseolus), bluebells (Scilla), and pretty well all of the tropicals. And then there are fungi - which you can't prevent appearing when you least expect them. Even given that, such risks are negligible - and you can be sure that the people who panic over such things don't take trains instead of driving (which reduces the risk to their brats MUCH more). | You will have the Poinsettia society after your scalp. As far as is | known the toxicity of euphorbia pulcherrima or Poinsettia is pretty | much an urban legend that has never been confirmed in any independent | toxological trials. See for example: Interesting. As with Solanum, not all are toxic :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#10
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list of poisonous plants
she should and could have checked in a book or elsewhere on
the Web to find out that quinces are NOT poisonous. I know that quinces are not poisonous, that's why I said that I was intending to eat teh quinces and I did check on the web, that's where I found all the stuff re poisonous seeds. As all the info I could find suggested that (a) it is difficult to extract teh seed as the fruit (in this country anyway) is very hard and (b) that the seed is poisonous then I thought I'd try actually asking a group of people about it in the hope that one of them woudl have some direct experience of an English grown quince and could give me some actual "common sense facts" as opposed to the miscellaneous assortment of information on the web which is variable in quality and usefulness at best . -- Hayley (gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset) |
#11
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list of poisonous plants
In article , "H Ryder" writes: | she should and could have checked in a book or elsewhere on | the Web to find out that quinces are NOT poisonous. | | I know that quinces are not poisonous, that's why I said that .... I apologise for misunderstanding you. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#12
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list of poisonous plants
Nick Maclaren writes
In article .com, "Sacha" writes: | | However, you say that the sap isn't life-threatening but that is one | of the most toxic plants going. A friend of ours ended up in hospital | after contact with it. He had horrible blisters and three years later, | the areas of his skin affected, still react badly to exposure to | sunlight. It's definitely not a plant to take lightly or to recommend | to others, IMO. Anyway, Hayley, I'm sorry - that was a mistake on my | part. I would (and did) take the "chemical burn" plants more seriously than the "poisonous" ones. If a child gets the sap on its hands, and rubs its eyes, that could be VERY bad news. And that is actually a likely scenario, unlike a child munching random unpalatable leaves, digging up and eating roots etc. My son is allergic to grass sap - I can well remember the sight of him with his eyes (and I mean his eyeballs, not the skin around) swollen like a large plastic bag. -- Kay |
#13
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list of poisonous plants
Nick Maclaren wrote: snip I would (and did) take the "chemical burn" plants more seriously than the "poisonous" ones. If a child gets the sap on its hands, and rubs its eyes, that could be VERY bad news. And that is actually a likely scenario, unlike a child munching random unpalatable leaves, digging up and eating roots etc. Unfortunately, there are a fair number of such plants. Giant hogweed is one; all sumachs and euphorbias are others - and the last include petty spurge (a very common weed) and the house plant "poinsettia". Also periwinkles, but mere touch isn't enough to reach the sap. snip While the saps of Toxicodendron (poison sumac(h)s) are highly allergenic for most people, do you have a cite that shows that all other sumachs have "toxic burn" saps? |
#14
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list of poisonous plants
I notice that just about every plant other than Monkshood has been
mentioned. Does this mean that it isn't as poisonous as I have been led to believe? I am such a novice still compared to some of you on here and would love to know if I have been worrying for nothing. When we moved here three years ago I knew even less than I do now. We moved at the end of May and found to our delight a garden full of beautiful flowers/plants. I went around the garden and cut some flowers and put two vases in the kitchen, this went on all summer. One day a neighbour called in and pointed to the beautiful purple flowers which I had been happily cutting and putting in the kitchen and said to me, "Ooh, Monkshood, I love it, but you do know it's extremely poisonous don't you"? I had no idea at all and immediately stopped putting the flowers in the house. I still have loads of it growing all over the garden, it is so pretty it's hard to believe it could have such a bad reputation. I have to say that I have followed this thread closely and have learned loads. I didn't know that potato, runner beans, tomatoes or horseradish were poisonous! I did know of Rhubarb but only because a friend of mine when we were kids picked some leaves and cooked them for her dad's tea because she thought they were cabbage leaves. He ended up in hospital a very sick man! This is a definitely a great site for novices, there is so much to learn and no better way to do it than on here. Thank you all! Gail |
#15
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list of poisonous plants
In article .com,
tom&barbara wrote: ... "Ooh, Monkshood, I love it, but you do know it's extremely poisonous don't you"? I had no idea at all and immediately stopped putting the flowers in the house. I still have loads of it growing all over the garden, it is so pretty it's hard to believe it could have such a bad reputation. Why stop? Unless you munch into it, it won't harm you. Many of the most beautiful plants are among the most poisonous. Try Gloriosa, Brugmansia and Oleander. I have to say that I have followed this thread closely and have learned loads. I didn't know that potato, runner beans, tomatoes or horseradish were poisonous! I did know of Rhubarb but only because a friend of mine when we were kids picked some leaves and cooked them for her dad's tea because she thought they were cabbage leaves. He ended up in hospital a very sick man! Quite. Never eat any part of a potato except the tubers, never eat green tubers, and don't eat potato raw if even slightly green. The same applies to all parts of the tomato except the fruit (which is edible ripe or green). It is the roots of runner beans that are poisonous, but never eat runner or dwarf/French beans raw once they start to ripen. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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