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Anyone had health problems after pruning Buddleia?

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  • Yes. Both my husband and myself cutting back a Buddliia had itchy eyes runny nose and choking cough.  It happens every time we cut the bush so much so that today we dig it up.

    Now we need to find something else for the butterfly's.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,611

    I found the worse one was Phlomis fruticosa. I had to shred it with goggles on and and a scarf over my mouth. Please don't laugh at the thought. I also had ear muffs on because the shredder is noisy.

    I dug it out and replaced it with  a buddleja.

  • The fig tree used to do it for me - itchy arms and anywhere else where the sap landed when being pruned.  In fact after the third or fourth season we decided to get rid of the tree completely which was a pity but we replaced it with a colourful bougainvillea that has thorns!

  • Just cut buddleia and have sore throat , every time I cut this plant it is the same story , there is no doubt the dust from this  plants leaves can cause a reaction . 

  • Very late to this discussion but found it when looking for answers to my getting sinusitis every time I prune my shrubs.  How interesting to hear that buddleias might well be causing it.   Think it might be a good idea to get rid of them.  Thank you everyone.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I wonder whether it’s dust from insect dropping  on the buddlia  that does it, butterfly and caterpillar droppings. I am the same when I go into our loft, it’s full of bat droppings, I come down from there choking but am assured they are not a long term problem. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • I pruned my buddleia and had a terrible coughing fit, and could hardly breathe.  Pleased to find these posts confirming what I have experienced may be due to this plant.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Shredding always makes me cough, it's dusty work.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,069
    I have a terrible reaction to weeding herb robert.
  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276
    No reaction to buddleia here, I was only dead heading them this morning. 
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