Poison?

[trisha]

Just how poisonous are Daturas/ Brugmansias (I don't know which name is correct)? I grow these in pots around the house for their spectacular flowers and lovely scent but next summer we will have a 2 year old, a6 year old and a 10 year old staying with us for about 6 weeks. How far away should put them? Do you have to eat them, touch them, get the sap on you. I have been growing these plants for some years with no discernible problems, certainly the slugs and snails like them and hover flies adore the flowers (never seen a bee on them ). So just how careful do I have to be? On the subject of toxic plants, Bryony grows like mad here and it's berries stay in hedges all winter whereas holly and Yew disappear as soon as they ripen. Does this mean that Bryony is really bad.

[tawny owl]

Just how poisonous are Daturas/ Brugmansias (I don't know which name is correct)? I grow these in pots around the house for their spectacular flowers and lovely scent but next summer we will have a 2 year old, a6 year old and a 10 year old staying with us for about 6 weeks. How far away should put them? Do you have to eat them, touch them, get the sap on you. I have been growing these plants for some years with no discernible problems, certainly the slugs and snails like them and hover flies adore the flowers (never seen a bee on them ). So just how careful do I have to be? On the subject of toxic plants, Bryony grows like mad here and it's berries stay in hedges all winter whereas holly and Yew disappear as soon as they ripen. Does this mean that Bryony is really bad.

They are quite poisonous, and it's all of the plant. Touching them and then sticking fingers in the mouth could give a child a tummy-ache, but they do taste disgusting, so it's unlikely to cause serious harm. More important is the fact that the sap, if it gets into the eyes, can cause severe irritation. It might be difficult with the 2 yhear old, but surely the older kids are old enough to understand 'Do not touch - that plant is poisonous?', so I'd put it out of the 2 year old's reach and tell the other two firmly that it is not to be touched, and if they do, they must wash their hands. Bit of personal responsiblilty is no bad thing.

Yes, bryony is very poisonous, and most animals will avoid it. It's reckoned that 40 berries is a fatal adult dose, so for a small child it could be as few as 5.