The dragon tree is one of the most popular indoor plants in Central Europe. As with so many plants, the question of the possible content of toxins in the plants arises, especially in connection with small children or pets.
The flowers of the dragon tree are only slightly poisonous
Dragon trees are conditionally safe for adults
The flowers and leaves of the dragon tree contain so-called saponins, which are also found in other plant species. The intake concentration, which is usually very limited anyway due to the bitter taste, usually has no serious effects on the organism of an adult human being. However, things can look different when it comes to allergy sufferers or asthmatics: In this more sensitive group of people, various symptoms such as itching or breathing difficulties were observed solely due to polluted room air.
Be careful with children and pets
Since young children are not yet very aware of the bitter taste of dragon tree leaves, they could actually consume amounts of the leaves left unattended, leading to serious health problems. So that children or pets cannot grab the dragon tree unnoticed, it can also find a seasonal location on the balcony in summer, for example. So that dogs or cats do not nibble on the leaves of the dragon tree, you should take preventive measures:
- set up the dragon tree out of the reach of small animals
- provide alternative employment opportunities
- Do not leave animals unattended in the room with a dragon tree
tips
While the flower of the dragon tree is no more toxic than the rest of the plant, its pungent smell attracts the attention of children and pets alike. Since the dragon tree is usually propagated by cuttings rather than seeds anyway, disturbing blossom approaches can also be cut off at any time.