I love a two-for-one deal! That’s what I got when I realized the cheery nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) I’d been growing for decades were also edible, and that’s what you’ll get too!I’ve always enjoyed the brilliant color
06.06.2023 - 16:04 / gardenerspath.com / Rose Kennedy
Gardeners, Beware! All Parts of Oleander Are Poisonous When EatenWith their vibrant blooms, and ability to withstand salt spray and drought, oleanders are highly desirable flowering plants. But these shrubs also contain cardiac glycosides, which are poisonous.
If humans or animals eat the blooms, leaves, stems, or roots, they can suffer a host of serious, or even fatal, reactions.
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Every gardener, pet owner, or parent must take the proper precautions when oleander is part of their plan for creating a windbreak, a hedge, or a coastal or container garden.
I’ll cover the details about this poisonous plant here, and provide some common-sense precautions for safe enjoyment. Here’s what to expect:
When Is Oleander Poisonous?The shrub with the botanical name Nerium oleander is a member of the Apocynaceae family, also known as dogbane. It contains cardiac glycosides in its roots, blooms, leaves, and stems – or in other words, everywhere.
All parts of the plant are poisonous when eaten, even if the leaves are dry or the shrub is dormant or dead.
The smoke created by burning the dry branches or other shrub debris can also cause a toxic reaction in your airways, or your whole system.
Poisoning Symptoms in PeopleFirst, let’s discuss how a potentially fatal reaction progresses when a person ingests oleander.
As confirmed by a 2014 toxicological survey, the compounds it contains create a toxic effect that initially causes symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, including nausea and vomiting, as well as an elevated pulse.
The cardiac glycosides which include oleandrin, nerin, digitoxigenin, and olinerin, are rapidly absorbed into the
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