Poisonous plants in the landscape
BY ROBERT N. BREWER, JR. Extension Service Agent UGA

Most of us are familiar with the distinct look of poision ivy and aware of the dangers of this plant.

While most of us are familiar with common poisonous plants that cause dermatitis (skin irritations) such as Poison Ivy or Poison Oak, we fail to recognize common ornamental plants in the landscape that may cause internal poisoning when ingested. Although most adults would not intentionally eat the leaves or fruit of ornamental plants in the landscape, young children or pets sometimes do.

The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with some of the common landscape know to have poisonous properties when ingested. You may be surprised to learn just how many of our common plants, such as azaleas, hydrangeas, boxwood and English ivy, are know to have poisonous properties.

Please note, however, that the term APOISONOUS@ used in this article does not imply that the plant is fatal. Some plants may be only mildly toxic and may cause stomach or mild irritation of the mouth and throat when ingested. There are also a number of variables that determine how severe the poisoning symptoms may be, such as the age, weight and health status os a person in relationship to the quantity of the plant ingested as well as the form that the plant was in at the time of ingestion (i.e. cooked versus raw, ripe fruit versus unripe fruit, etc.)

It is not the intent of this article to discourage your from planting any of the plants on the list, but to make you aware of their potential hazard when used in landscapes frequented by young children, domestic animals or mentally challenged adults. As the saying goes Aan ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.@ Prevention is the best medicine to prevent toxic plant poisoning.

Internal poisons are a group of chemically different substances that when ingested:

1. Act on the brain causing narcotic reactions and other mental disturbances.

2. Affect the spinal cord resulting in paralysis and convulsions.

3. Act as heart depressants and stimulants.

4. Irritate the digestive tract and nervous system.

To help prevent plant poisonings, follow these safety tips:

* Know the names of all the plants in your landscape. If you need help identifying a plant, take a piece of it to a nursery, florist, or your county extension agent.

* Label all of your plants with their names so you can identify a plant that has been eaten.

* Keep plants, seeds and bulbs out of the reach and sight of children and pets.

* Do not eat wild plants or mushrooms. Cooking poisonous plants does not make the safe to eat.

* Do not consume mushrooms growing in your landscape.

* Keep weed and insect killers in a locked cabinet, out of the reach of children and pets. Never put them in bottles used for drinking.

* Keep children and pets away from lawns newly sprayed with garden chemicals.

* Teach your children to never put any part of a plant into their mouths.