As beautiful as the daphne blossoms in spring and as decorative as the red fruits are - care should be taken when planting, because the ornamental shrub is highly poisonous. It's not just the fruits that contain poison, the bark and leaves also trigger symptoms upon contact.

Daphne is highly toxic

That's why Daphne is so dangerous

Daphne should never be planted in a location within reach of children or pets. It is highly toxic in almost all parts of the plant. Only the pulp itself does not contain any poison.

The plant contains diterpenes, the bark contains daphnetoxin. The seeds in particular are highly toxic. They contain the poison mezerein, which can be deadly depending on the dose. If the seeds are chewed, the poison is released.

Even eating a few seeds can have serious consequences:

  • Swelling and burning of the oral mucosa
  • salivation
  • difficulties swallowing
  • Vomit
  • diarrhea
  • cardiovascular disorders

Daphne is toxic upon contact

The poison from the leaves and bark enters the body solely through skin contact. Affected areas begin to itch and redden. Later, the poison triggers blisters and inflammation.

It is therefore essential to wear gloves when caring for the daphne. Also, don't leave cuttings lying around, but burn them straight away or put them in the household rubbish.

Also toxic to many animals

Daphne is not only poisonous for humans. Almost all pets, from dogs to tortoises, can get poisoned by the plant.

Immediate action after contact or ingestion

If the drupes of the Daphne were accidentally eaten, immediate action is required. Call the poison control center or go to the doctor or hospital immediately.

Birds, butterflies and bees love daphne

In gardens without small children or pets, Daphne is kept as a very valuable ornamental plant. The early flowering offers the bees the first food.

The shrub also attracts many butterflies during flowering. Ten bird species feed on the fruits of the daphne.

Use in natural medicine

Daphne is used in homeopathy to treat various ailments. However, self-medication is strongly discouraged due to the toxicity of daphne. In conventional medicine, daphne no longer plays a role.

tips

Daphne is one of the protected plants. It must not be taken from the wild.

Category:

Vegetable garden