Can you help ID these?

Posts

• fidgetbones Posts: 17,618

  May 2018 edited May 2018

  The first one is lily of the valley,(Convallaria majalis) not a hosta.  The second one is weigela.
  

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• 1634 Racine Posts: 568

  May 2018

  Cheers @fidgetbones
  
  I knew there had to be a reason the slugs weren't eating them! 

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• DampGardenMan Posts: 1,054

  May 2018

  1634 Racine said:

  Cheers @fidgetbones
  
  I knew there had to be a reason the slugs weren't eating them! 

  They can take over, so keep an eye on them!
  

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• 1634 Racine Posts: 568

  May 2018

  DampGardenMan said:

  1634 Racine said:

  Cheers @fidgetbones
  
  I knew there had to be a reason the slugs weren't eating them! 

  They can take over, so keep an eye on them!
  

  
  I find the Lily of the Valley pretty captivating and was considering transplanting a few to other shady areas to colonise. 

  However, after Fidgetbones identified them I did some reading and discovered that all parts of the plant are highly toxic.  Now reconsidering based on having an inquisitive 3 year old romping around the garden.

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• fidgetbones Posts: 17,618

  May 2018

  Lots of plants in the garden are highly toxic.Foxgloves, Rhubarb leaves, yew.  I survived, having been told that I could not put anything in my mouth unless I have already checked with mummy. Even strawberries  and other fruit had to be checked first. Start their horticultural training early, or concrete over everything.
  

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• 1634 Racine Posts: 568

  May 2018

    fidgetbones said:

  Lots of plants in the garden are highly toxic.Foxgloves, Rhubarb leaves, yew.  I survived, having been told that I could not put anything in my mouth unless I have already checked with mummy. Even strawberries  and other fruit had to be checked first. Start their horticultural training early, or concrete over everything.
  

  I am probably being overcautious and reading stuff on the internet doesn't help.  I do grow foxgloves as well but my fear was more about the berries that LoV will produce.  Why on earth would a plant produce berries that are going to kill you

  
  

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• Fire Posts: 19,096

  May 2018

  " Why on earth would a plant produce berries that are going to kill you?"

  
  

  Why not?
  

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• 1634 Racine Posts: 568

  May 2018

  Fire said:

  " Why on earth would a plant produce berries that are going to kill you?"

  
  

  Why not?
  

  
  It's a bit cheeky.  Surely the point of berries is that someone eats them and transports seed far and wide, or am I missing something?  I suppose if other animals can eat the berries and suffer no ill effects then that is fine.

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• wild edges Posts: 10,497

  May 2018

  Lots of interesting answers to that question but a lot of the time birds can eat toxic berries that other animals can't so the plant ensures that the seed gets dispersed by an animal that will travel further. The toxins also stop things like goats eating the whole plants rather than just the berries.
  

  
  

  Some seeds can only be germinated after being digested twice so they rely on a predator eating a mouse or something that already has the seed in its intestine.
  

  
  

  Plus you have to remember that some berries come from other places in the world with specific targets for consumption of their seed which don't exist here.
  

  
  

  It's a fascinating subject when you look into it.
  

  If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  

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• 1634 Racine Posts: 568

  May 2018

  @wild edges
  
  Yes it is very interesting. Also interesting how animals will know instinctively not each eat certain plants/berries. I know nature does have some clues (e.g. Colour, scent) and other things will be learnt from parents (a la fidgetbones) but I'm pretty sure I have read elsewhere about kind of latent knowledge/understanding in offspring where parents have not been present. 
  

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