Stories of people ingesting poisonous flowers are infamous – Romeo and Juliet, Socrates, among others. Yet when it comes to putting them in our gardens, why do these stories slip our minds? And which flowers exactly are the most poisonous?
Flowers are beautiful and meant to be enjoyed – but perhaps best from a distance. Some of our favorite and beautiful varieties turn out to be very, very poisonous, so be careful next time you’re thinking about using any of the following flowers in your garden. Especially if you have any small children, these plants are best avoided. With the exception of mistletoe, all of these can be fatal if ingested even in small quantities.
1. Rhododendron – sports red or white flower clusters and glossy leaves
2. Lily of the Valley – has small white bell flowers and can cause you to hallucinate from one bite
3. Hydrangea – beautiful large blooms ranging from pink to blue, can be like popping a cyanide pill if eaten
4. Poet’s Narcissus – white flowers whose secretions are even dangerous
5. Foxglove – can have pink, purple, white blooms
6. Larkspur – part of the buttercup family, it can have white to bluish purple flowers and can kill within 6 hours
7. Oleander – has bright white or pink buds and green foliage.
8. Mountain Laurel – cousin of azaleas, it has reddish pink to white color blooms.
9. Mistletoe – while not fatal in small quantities, the this plant commonly associated with kissing can still cause considerable stomach pain if it or its berries are ingested.
10. Water Hemlock – the most deadly of them all, this wild plant has small white flowers in umbrella-like clusters. The FDA calls it the most toxic plant to grow in North America, as it can kill within 15 minutes of ingestion. It sure plays up to its fame as a common poison in the old days!
Again, you may want to think twice before including these poisonous plants in your yard. Though they may be beautiful, ask yourself if it is worth the risk of you or one of your family members accidently ingesting part of them and risking diarrhea, nausea, or even seizures, paralysis and death for some flowers.
If you do find that someone near you has ingested one of these flowers, call your local poison control immediately.
One handy number is (800) 222-1222
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