Open Association of Landscape Industries
Potentially dangerous plants.
How many plants do you know of that can cause health problems, other than poisoning.
I can think of a few
Ruta gravelolens can cause skin problems because of phytophototoxicity, a reaction of the plants chemicals with sunlight. it can last for a few months.
Euphorbias, avoid getting the white sap into eyes, extremely painful , or around on the lips where sores can develop for weeks/months. There are small euphorbia weeds, which from personal experience still deliver quite a punch.
Hog weed, the strimmers delight. Red spots and burns on any area of skin splattered by the sap. Again another plantm sap that reacts with sunlight to cause phytophotodermatitis.
a thick strong suncream applied before strimming areas with hog weed can help.
Buddleia and Senecio greyii, these two are not really thought of as causing health problems. But pruning of both these shrubs at certain times of the year should be done with care if you value your lungs, especially if the weather is extremely dry.
Cutting senecio after it has just finished flowering should be done with caution, or a dustmask, and the same with hard pruning budleia in the spring.
I can think of a few
Ruta gravelolens can cause skin problems because of phytophototoxicity, a reaction of the plants chemicals with sunlight. it can last for a few months.
Euphorbias, avoid getting the white sap into eyes, extremely painful , or around on the lips where sores can develop for weeks/months. There are small euphorbia weeds, which from personal experience still deliver quite a punch.
Hog weed, the strimmers delight. Red spots and burns on any area of skin splattered by the sap. Again another plantm sap that reacts with sunlight to cause phytophotodermatitis.
a thick strong suncream applied before strimming areas with hog weed can help.
Buddleia and Senecio greyii, these two are not really thought of as causing health problems. But pruning of both these shrubs at certain times of the year should be done with care if you value your lungs, especially if the weather is extremely dry.
Cutting senecio after it has just finished flowering should be done with caution, or a dustmask, and the same with hard pruning budleia in the spring.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by John on -
I was very lucky to be working right next to a tap when it happened to me. - my head was under the tap for a few minutes.
Pro Gard said:Euphorbia sap made me thankfull of having the forsight to fit an eye wash station to the rear of my racking by the back door of the van........ totaly blinding agony.
-
Permalink Reply by Rob Glassborow on -
Fremontedendron Californicum. Once had a sleepless night with the itching, and was in the bath at 3am trying to sooth it. Never let it get in your eye, its like needles.
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
Elaeagnus shrubs have fine gold coloured flecks on the stems which can also stick to the eyeball when trimming with a hedge cutter. It is not really bad, but it is annoying for a couple of days, as you can feel a soreness with each blink of the eyelid.
Rob Glassborow said:Fremontedendron Californicum. Once had a sleepless night with the itching, and was in the bath at 3am trying to sooth it. Never let it get in your eye, its like needles.
-
Permalink Reply by David Channon on -
Wash your hands before taking a pee if you've been tying up capsicum!
I've heard that Bracken dust/spores can be a carcinogen if you brash them in the autumn
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
I forgot to mention that care should be taken when burning certain trees/shrubs,
The smoke from Oleander is extremely poisonous and a small amount can cause heart failure !!! - It is an ugly plant anyway and should not be planted in the UK.
The smoke from Rhus typhina can cause violent vomiting.
-
Permalink Reply by Simon Knops on -
Wow I hadn't realised what a dangerous place it is out there!
I carry large tear off plastic phials of saline wash - easy to slip in a pocket so ready to hand to wash out eyes without having to stagger back to the truck.
Blackthorn seems to turn septic very readily so I get the thorns out asap and then treat with tea tree cream - or better remember to put on the welding gauntlets before going near the thorns in the first place.
Will be looking very suspiciously at plants from now on!
-
Permalink Reply by HM GARDENS on -
Aconitum and Laburnham.
One valentines year we had to use euphorbia in all the handties can't remember the variety green and white foliage well everyone's faces arms just swelled up, very uncomfortable.
I remember having a really bad reaction to a bromieliad and it was like someone had chucked very extreme itching powder down my back.
Don't know why as it never happend again.
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pip Howard on -
Robinia pseudoacacia,
I fell foul of this one, felt very sick a couple of hours of being badly pricked by the thorns, then wound (on hand) went septic very quickly.
As David Channon said Bracken, a friend of my fathers was diagnosed and died soon after from nasal / throat cancer caused by bracken spores, (he was landscape artist and spent hours painting amongst the plant.
My dog is also always sick after eating grass......
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on -
Ace Garden Services - John said:I forgot to mention that care should be taken when burning certain trees/shrubs,
The smoke from Oleander is extremely poisonous and a small amount can cause heart failure !!! - It is an ugly plant anyway and should not be planted in the UK.
Agree that Oleander is extremely toxic. It is a poison and can kill you and your pets but have never had any problems or knew anyone to die from them.
They don't have much of a scent but great tough shrubs and the colours really are fabulous. Probably best not to smoke them!
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
Tender ugly things with mono coloured flowers, - but that is only my opinion. lol
Graeme @ BGS said:Ace Garden Services - John said:I forgot to mention that care should be taken when burning certain trees/shrubs,
The smoke from Oleander is extremely poisonous and a small amount can cause heart failure !!! - It is an ugly plant anyway and should not be planted in the UK.
Agree that Oleander is extremely toxic. It is a poison and can kill you and your pets but have never had any problems or knew anyone to die from them.
They don't have much of a scent but great tough shrubs and the colours really are fabulous. Probably best not to smoke them!
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on -
Ace Garden Services - John said:Tender ugly things with mono coloured flowers, - but that is only my opinion. lol
They will be forcing you to enhail the smoke in Bermuda John :-)
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
There is definitely a business killing to be had in freezing Burmuda, - opticians are required, pronto !! lol
Graeme @ BGS said:Ace Garden Services - John said:Tender ugly things with mono coloured flowers, - but that is only my opinion. lol
They will be forcing you to enhail the smoke in Bermuda John :-)
© 2013 Landscape Juice ® Limited - Registered in England 08356644
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
