Are there any garden plants that are poisonous

A.� Yes. In fact the majority of garden plants have the potential to cause problems to humans, from those that can cause mild irritation or rash to the particularly sensitive, to those that can be deadly if eaten.

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There are cases of people dying after using the branches of oleander, so common as a floral hedge on the continent and increasingly popular here, as makeshift kebab skewers.

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All parts of the innocent looking daffodil are poisonous, and there have been cases of people having nasty stomach upsets after mistaking the bulbs for onions.

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In the vegetable garden, the humble potato is to be treated with caution. Although what we take out of the ground is one of our staple foods, the potato is a member of the belladonna family, the most toxic of all our native plants, and its flowers will cause real problems if eaten.

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However, it is berries that cause the greatest problems, especially with children, because they are deliberately brightly coloured to attract attention from birds. The berries from yew and privet, both widely used as hedging in our gardens are toxic, as are the fruits of the aptly named cherry laurel. Many plants only cause problems when touched. The furry bark of the sumach (Stag Horn), for instance, can cause irritation.

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Q. How can we tell what is and isn't toxic and should we stop planting these things

A. All responsible growers will tell you about potential problems on the labels. Always check and, if in doubt, ask before you buy. Banning these plants from the garden is not the answer. As a rule people don't go around chomping bits of leaf and berries off plants in the garden and you are just as likely to find them in parks, open gardens or at the neighbours.

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Children are the main worry, but by teaching them from an early age what they can touch and not touch, eat and not eat you are standing them in good stead.

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Of course, there are practical measures you can take such as position particularly harmful plants at the back of borders and always wear gloves when handling them.

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