Beautiful but deadly – poisonous plants in gardens and allotments

Posted in Nature, Plants on Wednesday, 14 March 2012

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This edited article about plants originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 663 published on 28 September 1974.

Laburnum, picture, image, illustration

Laburnum blossom

Even in a well cultivated garden danger lurks, sometimes in unexpected places. Many plants which are grown in the vegetable garden for food contain poisons in some of their parts and a number of flowers and trees are particularly dangerous.

The Laburnum or Golden Rain is a familiar garden tree which grows up to 30 feet high, with attractive yellow panicles of flowers which blossom in May or June. However, it has been found to be the cause of more cases of poisoning than any other plant in Britain. All parts of it are poisonous, particularly the bark and the seeds which grow in pods like small peas.

Nobody should ever touch these for the effects of eating them are vomiting and convulsions, followed by unconsciousness and even death. Animals, too, should be prevented from eating the fallen seeds or chewing the bark.

The Rhododendron grows nearly everywhere where soil is sandy or acid. Both the leaves and the flowers contain poisons and while nobody is likely to be foolish enough to eat these, animals are at risk and many die every year from this cause.

Privet is one of the commonest plants used for hedges and the black berries which are produced in late summer if the hedge is not kept well clipped are poisonous. So horses and sheep should not be kept in a field which has a privet hedge.

Rhubarb has, though many people do not know this, poisonous leaves. While the stalks are edible, the leaves are not, and should never be cooked with the stalks and eaten.

The Tomato belongs to the same family as the Deadly Night Shade. So it is not surprising that while everybody knows the tomato fruits are good to eat, the stems and leaves contain poisonous substances.

The Lily of the Valley is a poisonous plant, and all parts of it are poisonous. The same applies to the first flowers of the Winter Aconite.

Even the homely Potato has its dangers for it is not good to eat when it has begun sprouting and the stem and leaves of the plant are poisonous. Other garden plants which are poisonous include Mahonia, Aquilegia, Laurel, Arum Lily, Christmas Rose, Honeysuckle, Daffodil, Hyacinth, Poppy, Lupin, Primrose, Solomon’s Seal and Tulip.

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