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Autumn crocus, Colchicum spp.
Not related to the popular spring-blooming crocus, autumn crocus is a bulb
prized for its ability to bloom whether it's been planted in the ground or
not. Don't store these bulbs where they might be mistaken for onions and
consumed.Poisonous Part: All parts of the plant contain alkaloid colchicine,
which causes cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood pressure,
irregular and weak pulse, and respiratory failure.Medicinal History: In spite
of its great toxicity, autumn crocus was traditionally used to treat gout and
rheumatism.
Larkspur shares many of same properties as delphinium.
Delphinium, Delphinium spp.
The stately spires of the traditional delphinium, including the perennial
lines 'Pacific Hybrids' and 'Magic Fountains,' can be a source of great pride
to gardeners who live in cooler climes. In zones 7 and southward, larkspur,
an annual type of delphinium, grows better; its self-seeding nature makes it
a cottage garden favorite. Poisonous Part: All parts of the delphinium are
potentially poisonous, thanks to alkaloids including delphinine, ajacine and
others. Eating it will make the lips and throat burn, can cause severe
vomiting and diarrhea, and may paralyze the respiratory system.Medicinal
History: Remarkably, this has been used as an herbal remedy for asthma. It's
also considered a potent insecticide, which some say was used by World War I
soldiers to destroy lice and nits in their hair.
Foxglove, Digitalis spp.
Another statuesque garden denizen -- with spikes of pale pink, yellow or
white flowers rising three to four feet high -- most popular foxgloves are
biennials, meaning that seeds sprout and grow foliage the first year, bloom
the second year, and then die after setting new seed. The first-year foliage
is sometimes confused with the herb comfrey, which some people like to brew
into a tea. Poisonous Part: All parts of foxglove contain digitalis, used in
medicine as a heart stimulant. Although its medical properties are
well-documented, the drug must be professionally prepared and administered to
be safe. Otherwise, it causes nausea, stomach pain, a slow and irregular
pulse and convulsions.Medicinal History: Digitalis extracted from the dried
leaves of Digitalis purpurea continues to be used in medicine as a heart
stimulant.
Lantana, Lantana camara
This gangly, heat-loving subshrub is widely used in the summertime landscape.
Its cheerful yellow, orange and pink flowers attract bees, butterflies and
even hummingbirds to the garden. Perennial in the Deep South, it is treated
as a fast-growing annual in much of the country.Poisonous Part: The green
berries, which appear as the flowers fall, cause poisoning and death in
children. It is perhaps a more serious threat to them than the other plants
on this list because of its berries, which older children are more likely to
find an attractive "food" than flowers.Medicinal History: In tropical climes,
lantana leaves have been used as a toothbrush and gargle. The pungent,
sage-scented leaves are also used as an insect repellent.
Oleander, Nerium oleander
Oleander is the ubiquitous landscape shrub of Florida's highway system,
blooming its toxic heart out for several months each year. But oleander's got
more good looks than you'll see in those roadside plantings, thanks to
hybridizers who have improved the color variety and the bloom size of the
species.Poisonous Part: The leaves and stems contain a milky, sticky sap
that, according to the International Oleander Society, has a bitter,
rotten-lemon flavor. The toxic sap, containing a mixture of cardenolide
glycosides, causes symptoms similar to that of digitalis poisoning. It's
possible to get oleander poisoning by using its branches as hot dog
skewers.Medicinal History: Oleander is an ancient treatment for skin ailments
and heart medicine. Like foxglove, it is clearly an inappropriate home remedy.
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