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Deadly but easily obtainable

Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154

Nerium oleander , or just Oleander ; a beautiful plant widely available in garden centres . Much planted out during the summer-months ; this is actually one of the worlds most poisonous plants (in the top five) . The leaves , or even the juice from them can be absolutely fatal to humans !

This is sold with virtually no warnings as to its toxicity . Stupid isn't it?

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    but who eats the flower garden? They're full of 'deadly' plants and everyone chooses the one they think most deadly to worry about. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066

    Loads of poisonous plants in my garden, the children and now the grandchildren were always told never to touch any of the plants in the garden without asking about them.  They didn't.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I think it should me mentioned on the labels - taking a 'at least you've been told' approach.
    I suspect the reason it's not is because there's no legislation that requires it, and if they did print a big POISONOUS on the label it's not going to help sales


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    If you're concerned about the toxicity of plants, you can always take responsibility for yourself and Google them before you buy them. If you think that the risk is unacceptable, then don't buy the plant.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Having spent a fair bit of time in the southern Med., which is full of Oleanders, it is a miracle that there are any people surviving.

    My garden is full of foxgloves and aconitum and I am still alive.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845

    Many on here will know I have had a recent encounter with euphorbia.

    It turned into an ophthalmic emergency. I am still attending hospital.

    It was entirely my own fault! I was complacent.   I have no intention of digging it out as it is doing what it is meant to do, i.e. Ground cover

     my family will be made aware and children taught about plants without frightening them off the pleasure they can give

    I have lots of other toxic plants. 

    I also have goggles,gauntlets, wellies, skin screen sprays, a first aid box ........................

    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    and avoid that scary rhubarb, the leaves are highly poisonous too.

    Devon.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    Paul B3, how many folk in the UK have ever  died as a result of these plants?

    Devon.
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