Can (Do) You Have Poisonous Plants On Your Property?

Normally on Tuesday we talk about weeds whether they are the good kind or the bad nuisance kind. But some plants and green growie things can be downright dangerous and poisonous to animals and even humans. Do you have anything like that growing on your commercial property? Are You Sure?

Here are just five of the many that could be growing on your property;

Oleander. One of the most poisonous plants known, this evergreen shrub is commonly grown throughout warmer areas of the U.S. In California, it’s even grown along roadsides and used to decorate highway medians because it’s drought tolerant and deer won't eat it. The showy and often fragrant flowers make this a popular ornamental for backyard landscapes, but care must be used to keep children and animals from eating any part of the plant, as all are poisonous. Ingesting even a small amount of the leaves can be lethal, or cause severe gastrointestinal and cardiac reactions.

Even oleander sap can cause skin irritations, numbness, and eye inflammation if it comes into contact with your hands or skin. If you have kids running around, it might be wise to remove this plant from your yard, as children can be attracted to its bright flowers. Just be sure to wear gloves when pulling it out.

Castor Bean. This popular plant, which is an annual in some areas and a perennial in tropical zones, is grown nationwide. Its multicolored, palmlike leaves and brightly hued, spiny flowers add a tropical punch to landscapes, but the ricin-laced seeds deliver their own pop if ingested. Ricin is known as the most deadly poison the plant world makes; it’s said that eating just one seed can kill a child. The symptoms of poisoning start a few hours after ingestion and include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, severe dehydration, and, potentially, death. Keeping people and animals safe is as easy as stopping the plant from going to seed; just pinch off the pods as soon as they appear. An even safer option: Don’t grow the plant in or around homes with small children.

Daphne. The sweet, strong fragrance of this evergreen shrub’s flowers (which bloom in shades of green, white, or pink) is a welcome sign of spring in warmer areas of the country. Its berries, however, are extremely poisonous, and caution should be used to keep kids from ever popping them into their mouths. Eating even a handful could be killer. While the unassuming size of the plant makes it popular to grow in containers, you may want to plant it in less easily accessible areas instead if you have kids around, or remove it altogether.

Lantana. This perennial flowering plant is hugely popular in southern states and warmer western states like Texas and California. Aromatic flowers in red, orange, and yellow attract the nose and eye, but don’t let the berries tempt your taste buds: They’re most toxic while still green, before they turn a blackish shade, but even eating the darker berries can make you sick. Keep kids away while the berries are green, or remove the plant altogether until children can be trusted not to snack on the shrub.

Yellow Jessamine. Also known as Carolina jessamine, the evergreen vine is the state flower of South Carolina, this plant has trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that may look beautiful but, like every other part of this plant, are also deadly. Unfortunately, children may mistake the flowers for honeysuckle and attempt to drink the nectar found in the buds. Though ingesting the plant would likely just make an adult sick, there have been reported cases of children dying after ingestion. If there are young children in your home, you may want to think twice about planting this decorative vine.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial desert landscaping, lush lawns or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented By:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net