There are many, many things to consider when you are planning, planting or even re-planting a garden. First is the amount of sun and shade you have in your yard. We all know this changes from season to season and hour-to-hour during the day. But by close observation, you can determine how much sun any one area gets and then make your plant decisions accordingly.
Secondly is the type of flowers or vegetables you are interested in growing. Some of us prefer perennials that we don’t have to rebuy every year. Others like the colorful show that annuals put on. And if you don’t like to eat kohlrabi, no sense adding that to your vegetable patch.
Thirdly, watering requirements. Does your garden have sandy soil that drains quickly or clay soil that hold water? This can make a difference when you go plant shopping as many plants don’t like wet feet while others thrive in shallow water.
But something we rarely consider is the toxicity of the plants for our garden. This makes plant choice much more difficult. But if you have children, grandchildren or animals in your home, you will want to be aware of some plants that are highly toxic.
The term “poisonous” means plants that have properties that are harmful to people and animals. They can cause upset stomachs, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, burning of the throat, mouth or tongue and other serious symptoms. Others can cause permanent organ damage, convulsions or even coma or death.
Even here, there are variations. Some plants are poisonous because they will cause gastrointestinal problems if eaten. Others can cause dermatological issues when they come in contact with the skin. Even a tiny bit of, say, the oils from poison ivy or poison oak can cause severe rashes and boils to the skin of some individuals. While other people may have built up a resistance and not be affected at all.
The term “poisonous” doesn’t always mean fatal. It will depend on the amount ingested, the body weight, health, and age of the person or animal, the toxin in the plant and what stage the plant’s growth is in. It will also depend on the part of the plant consumed and the condition of those parts. The toxicity of the plant is determined by the amount ingested or placed on the skin. “The dose makes the poison.” For example, an unripened berry may be more toxic than a ripe one. Or not… depending on the plant.
I am one of those people who loves tall, blue, spiked plants like delphiniums. I just can't grow them in my garden. So instead, I found a plant called Acontium, but there are several common names of Acontium, like monkshood, wolf’s bane, or queen of poisons. (That last name should tell you something if the others don’t.) They grow quite easily for me, and are very pretty at the back of the garden. But they are also one of the most toxic plants I could have chosen. I do wear long sleeves and heavy gloves when I work in that area of the garden, but after doing some research, I think I must remove this plant entirely from my yard. Little did I know that these easy-to-grow spires can be deadly within two hours of being ingested. Now, I am not saying I would purposely eat this plant, but I am afraid that even a little on the skin could be problematic. And with grandchildren and dogs, even if this is in the back of the flower bed, I am not going to take any chances anymore.
I’ll bet you would be surprised to learn of other toxic plants. Rhododendron and azaleas? Castor beans? (One of the worst) Pieris japonica? St. John’s Wort? And there are many, many more ornamentals that we see in gardens every day.
St John's Wort ^
It would be next to impossible to remove all the poisonous plants from our gardens. But there are some things you can do to minimize the dangers. We will talk about those in my next blog.
But in the meantime, if you suspect a person has been affected by a poisonous plant, call the Oregon Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Try to tell the plant involved, how much was ingested and what part of the plant was eaten. If the person is having difficulty breathing or experiencing a seizure, skip the Poison Control and call 911. You will still need to know the basics above.
If an animal was involved, you can call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 and you will need to be able to explain the same things you would if it were a person: age of animal, how much was ingested and type of plant. They charge a $59 fee. The ASPCA also has a Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 but they may charge up to $65 for a consultation. Your local vet may be able to help as well.
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