In view of the magnificent blooms of an amaryllis, the question of a possible poison content is quite appropriate. In Mother Nature's realm, floral opulence and serious toxicity often go hand in hand. Read here whether this also applies to the knight star.
As beautiful as amaryllis is, it is also poisonous
Knightstar is poisonous to humans
Don't let the majestic funnel shaped flowers fool you about the extreme poison content of an amaryllis. All parts of a knight star contain toxic alkaloids. The health-threatening lycorine is found explicitly in high concentrations in the onion. If only a few grams are consumed, severe symptoms of poisoning are the result. Patients suffer from these symptoms:
- Massive nausea and vomiting
- Acute dizziness followed by rapid heartbeat
- Heavy sweats
You should refrain from cultivating an Amaryllis within the reach of children. In addition, the plant is classified as poisonous to animals, so that cats, dogs, guinea pigs and other pets are at risk of death if consumed.