10 Common and Poisonous Flowers
Flowers spread color and joy and compliment
the garden, but some plants that are loved by gardeners are actually
toxic. No one is saying that you should remove them or avoid them
altogether, but if you have small grandchildren or pets, you should know
what flowers are poisonous so that you can keep an eye out and become
aware of what the consequences might be if they ingest one of the
following exotic and dangerous flowers.
1. Hydrangea
Be extra vigilant when growing hydrangeas, and don’t keep them indoors
if you have cats and dogs, in case they nibble on them. Hydrangeas
contain small amounts of cyanide and can be lethal to pets if digested.
Ingestion of a small amount of leaves and flowers can cause diarrhea,
vomiting, and lethargy in pets.
2. Celmatis
When touched or consumed, the toxin called anemonin can cause dermatitis
in some people and a mild burning sensation and ulcers in the mouth if
eaten. Fortunately, the symptoms subside soon, and pets tend to avoid
eating much of it because of its bitter taste.
3. Oleander
Oleanders are charming, fragrant, and loved by home owners – they can be
white, pink, yellow or red. However, if you often have small children
in your house, it’s best to be careful as eating only a meager amount of
this flower can be very dangerous. All parts of this plant are
extremely poisonous if ingested, and the symptoms include a fever,
dehydration, slow heartbeat, tremors, and even death.
4. Azalea
These colorful flowers are beautiful to look at, but if the flowers,
stems, or leaves are eaten by your pet they can cause abdominal pain and
difficulty breathing.
5. Daffodil
The bulbs are the toxic part of this popular and familiar flower, so, if
you have a dog that likes to dig in flower beds, you should take care
when you plant it. Too much ingestion can cause vomiting, tremors,
diarrhea, and heart rhythm disorders.
6. Lantana
This flower is known for its intense fragrance, and can be found in
shades of white, pink, red, orange, yellow, and violet. All parts of
this beautiful flower are poisonous and can cause depression, fatigue,
vomiting, and liver failure if ingested.
7. Foxglove
Foxgloves are currently used in heart medicine, but if you ingest a
particular amount of this plant it can cause headaches, stomach pain,
and fainting.
8. Lily of the Valley
This plant contains cardiac glycosides, which, when consumed, affects
the heart and causes vomiting, illusions, slow heart rates, blurriness,
and even death. Fortunately, the poison is slowly absorbed in the body,
so medical intervention can occur before too much damage is done.
9. Wisteria
This beautiful plant is mildly poisonous for cats and dogs. The seeds
are the most poisonous, and consuming only a few seeds can cause mild
abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and damage to the central nervous
system.
10. Morning Glory
Not all species of this plant are poisonous, but there are a few that
have toxic seeds. These seeds contain the toxic lysergic alkaloids,
which causes symptoms such as diarrhea, in-coordination, and liver
failure, if digested in large amounts.