Protect your little ones from dangerous garden plants so that the enjoyment of nature can pass without unwanted consequences
For all of you who live in houses with a garden, the most beautiful six months begin, when you will surely stay in nature with your children, play outdoor games and arrange your green oasis. But with all the benefits of a long stay outdoors, it is necessary to double strain the eyes and ears because children (especially preschoolers) are very prone to swallowing various seeds or leaves of potentially dangerous and very poisonous plants.
Younger children should definitely be taught to NEVER eat any flowers, berries or leaves in the garden and that they should always wash their hands after playing outdoors (not only for plants but also for touching the ground, animals and the like). With children older than 3-4 years, it is easy to start studying nature in more detail and it is possible to teach them which plants are edible and which are dangerous and poisonous. One of the positive things about dangerous garden plants is that they either have thorns and are unattractive to the child or they are very bitter or have a very bad taste, so the child will quickly be deterred from further consuming the fruit, flower or leaf.
First aid
If you suspect that a child has swallowed any plant or part of a plant, it is best to take as much as possible out of the mouth, rinse the child's mouth with water and go to the first health care facility as soon as possible. If skin reactions (redness, rash, swelling) occur, the skin should be rinsed with clean water and also referred to the nearest healthcare facility.
Finally, it should be noted that, regardless of whether or not we have one of the potentially dangerous and poisonous plants planted around the house, I definitely recommend staying in the garden and in the fresh air, just always with a great deal of caution and responsibility towards our children.
What plants, often found in our gardens, yards and parks, could be dangerous to children?
1) Tuberous flowers (Narcissus sp., Hyacinthus sp. (Hyacinth), Iris sp., Lilium sp.)
Bulbs are mostly the most poisonous on plants, so it is unlikely that a child will eat them, but care should be taken when handling these plants because milk is also from the stalk poisonous.
2) Thimble (Digitalis purpurea)
This very decorative flowering plant is especially popular in the so-called. country or "grandmother's" gardens. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous.
3) Lily of the vally (Convalaria majalis)
Although it smells wonderful and has been entertaining us since May with its white bells, special attention should be paid to children. All parts of this plant are extremely poisonous, especially the red berries that ripen in September. Special care should be taken as they stop the heart from working.
4) Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
This plant belongs to the group of thorny plants that would be better avoided in the garden so that children do not get hurt playing next to it. Great care should also be taken that the child does not eat the red fruit as it is very poisonous.
5) Ivy (Hedera helix)
All parts of the plant are poisonous, and as it is common as a ground cover, in decorative jars, but also wild on our trees, care should be taken that children do not put it in their mouths.
6)Heartworm (Dicentra cucullaria)
This wonderful plant whose inflorescence mimics the look of a heart is very common in our continental traditional gardens. Great care should be taken because the leaves and root are poisonous and can cause muscle spasms and other similar symptoms related to the nervous system.
7) Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
This beautiful woody climber delights in early spring with its beautiful clustered blue, lilac or white blooms. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the pods and seeds. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and mild or moderate gastroenteritis.
8) Quince (Cotoneaster sp.)
A very popular evergreen shrub serves as a ground cover, especially on sloping terrain, as it retains the soil with its strong roots. It has attractive orange to red berries, which are poisonous, but a larger amount is needed to cause the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
9) Lantana (Lantana sp.)
This plant is more characteristic of the Mediterranean climate (Istria and Dalmatia), but it can also be grown in a jar on the continent. The poison acts on the gastric mucosa and can also cause skin irritation if the hairy leaves are touched.
10) Golden rain (Laburnum anagiroides)
A beautiful tree in spring blooms in long yellow clusters, after which the plant got its popular name. It is a very poisonous plant and regardless of its beauty it should be avoided in gardens where small children play.
If we have thorny bushes in the garden, e.g. Pyracantha sp. (fire thorn), Berberis sp. (barberry), Rubus fructicosus (blackberry), Rubus idaeus (raspberry) and the like, we must be very careful so that children do not get stuck on thorns.
11) Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Although more common in the Mediterranean climate, it can be grown in jars in the continental part of Croatia. All parts of this plant are extremely poisonous, and the main symptoms of poisoning are: stumbling, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, dilated pupils and in the most severe cases of poisoning coma followed by death. Fortunately, all parts of the plant are also very bitter, so there is rarely more consumption.
12) Azalea, Rhododendron
These are very popular garden and houseplants (smaller specimens or bonsai) because of their beautiful flowers, but great care should be taken because all parts of the plant are poisonous.
In addition to free-growing shrubs, special attention should always be paid to plant material that serves as a hedge, as it is also often dangerous to children's health.
13) Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
This is a very common shrub, especially about the Mediterranean climate. It is most often planted in the form of a hedge because it forms a thick and high dark green wall of shiny leaves.
All parts of the plant are poisonous, so great care should be taken.
14) Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, Buxus sp.)
Another evergreen shrub very popular in horticulture. It usually serves as a low border of flower beds with seasonal flowers, for edging terraces, as a smaller ornamental tree or for shaping various shapes (topiaries). It blooms in spring with small yellow flowers, which are found in groups and have a pale green or brown berry fruit. All parts of boxwood can cause abdominal pain, and sometimes, in sensitive people and children, the leaves can cause irritation in contact with the skin.
15) Yew (Taxus communis, Taxus sp.)
This evergreen plant that has red tempting berries since autumn is very common as a hedge or ornamental plant in the continental part of Croatia, although it can also be found in Istria. All parts of the plant are poisonous except the red sheath (arilus) around the black seed. As the fruits are very small, the child can easily swallow the semen which, among other things, causes the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, dilated pupils, pallor, red circles on the body, shortness of breath, circulatory disorders, liver and kidney pain and loss consciousness. You should definitely induce vomiting and get to the first health facility as soon as possible.
With the arrival of warmer and wetter weather, one should also pay attention to wild mushrooms, which often occur both in the forest and in gardens. If you are not an expert yourself, never eat mushrooms picked in nature.
