Learn What Plants You Should Never Eat

When our children were young…and long before the internet was available…we had a hard time finding out whether or not something they ate would hurt them. If we didn't recognize the plant, poison control couldn't help. Neither could the doctor. Even the folks at the local nursery couldn't say if it would harm a child. Their list was about horses.

We came up with a rule which helped prevent tragedy and later became highly amusing. They had to bring what they wanted to eat to us and ask "Mommy (or daddy), can I eat this?" It is one reason I know plant toxins almost as well as those that are beneficial.

In the Yard: Yew tree hedges produce beautiful berries. If you believe in the "squirrels and birds" theory of deciding edibility, you will be dead in about half an hour after eating them. Those animals don't grind their food. We do. The seeds in the berries are highly toxic when chewed.

There can be problems in the flower bed as well. Foxglove contains digitoxin, a compound used to make digitalis. Castor beans are another dangerous landscaping plant. The problem here is ricin.

When thinking of the yard, don't forget fruits and vegetables. Potato and tomato leaves are toxic. They're related to the deadly nightshade family. The leaves, bark and pits of apples, cherries, apricots and plums contain a substance that changes to cyanide in the human body.

In the House: There's good news and bad news. The good news is that philodendrons aren't as toxic as we were taught as children. The bad news is that some houseplants are. Hydrangeas can cause minor reactions or major complications. The lucky have burning of the mouth, nausea and vomiting. The unlucky may find themselves in a coma.

The best thing to do when choosing houseplants is to talk to the nursery about them. If they are unaware of the possible risks, write down the names and look them up online. It may take some searching, but the information is available.

In the Wild: Here is where we get into the most trouble. Plants that grow in the wild don't come with nametags, so unless you are a naturalist, have one with you or are *very* certain a plant is safe, it's a good idea not to start eating whatever comes to hand.

One of the stories that gets told the most often is of a young girl who found what she thought was wild celery. She ate it and died. Why? It was water hemlock.

As mentioned with the yew trees, looking at what the wildlife are eating doesn't necessarily help you. Things that are toxic to humans may not be toxic to the animals.

This isn't to scare you away from all plants. It's to remind you that plants deserve respect. There are plants that aren't safe and some of them look like ones that are. If you want to find out if a plant is edible, take a picture and ask an expert. It could save your life.