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In the homeland of the desert rose, indigenous people use the white plant sap as arrow poison. That says it all doesn't it? This desert and steppe plant, adapted to extremes, knows how to defend itself against herbivores…
Unfortunately, the beautiful desert rose is poisonous
A highly toxic milky juice
The milky sap of the desert rose is highly toxic. The name of the plant family also indirectly indicates the toxicity. The desert rose belongs to the dogbane family. It is related to the oleander, which is also poisonous.
Cardenolides and honghelin make the desert rose as poisonous as the foxglove. Consuming both the leaves and the flowers, seeds or shoots can have bad consequences, including:
- nausea
- Vomit
- cardiac arrhythmias
- circulatory problems
- cardiac paralysis
- After skin contact: Irritations, itching, burning
tips
Even if poisoning is unlikely due to the bitter taste, you should place this houseplant out of the reach of pets and small children and wear gloves when caring for it, for example when repotting!