Hill Gardens of Maine -- Dangerous plants in the home and garden, Part 2

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Dangerous plants in the home and garden – Part 2
by Fred Davis, Hill Gardens of Maine, May 2008 (To view other articles, click Archives)

Welcome through Fred’s Garden Gate! According to the Maine Poison Control Center, dangerous or poisonous plants are everywhere. In the United States and Canada alone, more than 700 species of plants are known to have caused significant illness or death in humans.

Children are especially vulnerable because of their attraction to colorful fruits, flowers, berries or leaves of plants. Children must be taught not to put any part of house or garden plants (other than those prepared as wholesome food) into their mouths.

In Dangerous plants in the home and garden, Part 1, we talked about dangerous or potentially lethal houseplants. Now we'll take a closer look at some equally- hazardous plants (or parts of plants) found in many flower and vegetable gardens.

Bleeding Heart - A Mother's Day favorite, Dicentra spectabilis roots and foliage can cause convulsions and other nervous symptoms.

Poppies - These frequently seen garden types can also cause convulsions and other nervous system symptoms.

Delphinium, Larkspur - The young plants and seeds cause nausea, nervous symptoms, twitching muscles, paralysis, death.

Foxglove (Digitalis) - Any part of this species can cause irregular heartbeat and pulse, usually accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion. May be fatal.

Iris (Bearded and Siberian) - The fleshy, underground portions (rhizomes) cause severe, but usually not serious, digestive upset.

Lily-of-the-Valley - Ingested leaves, flowers and seeds can cause irregular heart-beat and pulse, usually accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion. May be fatal.

Lupine - Any part, especially the seeds, may cause breathing difficulty and death.

Monkshood (Aconitum) - All parts, especially the roots, cause digestive upset and nervous excitement; ingested plant juices will likely cause death.

Peony - Juice from the roots can cause paralysis.

Snowdrops - The bulbs of this popular spring flower will cause vomiting and nervous excitement if eaten.

Sweet Pea - All parts, especially the seeds, may cause paralysis, slow weak pulse, respiratory depression, hallucinations and convulsions.

Potato - The foliage and green parts of the underground vegetable contain solanine which can cause intensive digestive disturbances and neurological symptoms.

Rhubarb - ingestion of the large leaf-blade has been responsible for kidney disorders, convulsions and coma, followed by death.

Tomato - Vines of tomatoes can cause digestive upset and nervous disorders.

The list above is far from complete. Many more common garden and native plants are dangerous if consumed by humans.

In addition to those already listed, watch out for these: Azalea, Laurel, Rhododendron all parts; Daphne berries; Goldenchain, all parts; Hydrangea buds, leaves and branches; Jasmine berries; Privet berries and leaves; Wisteria seeds and seed pods; Black Locust bark, foliage and seeds; Cherry and Peach twigs and foliage; Elderberry roots; Baneberry all parts; Buttercups all parts; Jack-in-the-Pulpit all parts especially roots; Marsh Marigold all parts; Mayapple unripe apples, leaves and roots; Moonseed berries; Morning Glory seeds; Nightshade all parts especially unripe berries; Poison Ivy/Oak and White Sumac all parts, eaten or touched; Pokeweed roots and berries; Virginia Creeper berries; Star-of-Bethlehem bulbs; and finally, Mushrooms. No part of any unidentified mushroom or "toadstool" should be ingested. It only takes one or two small bites of a poisonous one (and there are many!) to cause a most unpleasant death.

That's as many as there is space for here. For safety's sake, take the advice of experts in the field of plant toxicology: Don't ingest any part of any plant which you have any doubt about.

Return to Dangerous plants in the home and garden, Part 1

For an outstanding list of dangerous plants from a very credible source: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/alphalist.html.

Canadian Poisonous Plant Database

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