But it is actually meant seriously! Beginners in particular with the most beautiful pastime in the world, hobby gardening, often have no idea what they are actually getting for their beds with laburnum, angel's trumpets, euonymus or the popular lily of the valley. And if you know, your dog won't know, or your beloved cat.

Angelically beautiful and highly poisonous: the angel's trumpet

Let's take castor oil for example: great look until autumn with its characteristic blue-green, huge leaves decorated with red veins, the bristle-like bright red flowers and the highly poisonous castor oil. 25 milligrams or a seed is enough for death within two days if nobody helps.
Somehow nature seems to have made a mistake with the poisonous plants. Most of them are particularly attractive plants, i.e. ornamental plants, which we not only see in gardens, but which can also be admired in public parks and, of course, in the great outdoors. Take a look for yourself and see if you might find old friends in our list:

The official list of poisonous plant species (an excerpt!)

growth German name botanical name toxicity poisonous plant parts
herb arum Arum maculatum Rootstock, berries, leaves
shrub ivy Hedera helix berries, leaves
shrub & herb angel trumpet Datura suaveolens * all plant parts
herb thimble Digitalis purpurea leaves, flowers, seeds
herb fire bean Phaseolus coccineus unripe raw fruits, leaves
tree & shrub laburnum Laburnum anagyroides flowers, green fruits, seeds
shrub cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus leaves, seeds
shrub tree of life Thuja spec. Twig tips, cones
houseplant oleander Nerium oleander leaves, flowers, bark
shrub daphne Daphne spec. * bark, seeds, flowers, leaves
herb spurge Euphorbia sp. milky juice
herb Red bryony Bryonia dioica root, berries, seeds

Source: "Official list of poisonous plants" from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

* * = Ingestion of small amounts can lead to moderate poisoning;
* * * = Ingestion of small amounts can lead to severe to fatal poisoning;

First aid, what to do?

In terms of taste, some varieties are not perceived as alarming or even dangerous and are rather perceived as typical of fruit. Others contain bitter substances or burn in the mouth and have an above-average stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Symptoms typical of the disease such as fever, stomach cramps and vomiting, and in worse cases even cardiac arrhythmia, are diagnosed after just one hour for some toxic plants. Effective antidote for home use, except for the well-known medicinal charcoal - none! Do not even try self-medication in the form of traditional poison cocktails from grandma's traditional medicine cabinet, as they would be "dead-proof" in the truest sense of the word. The only possible option if poisoning is suspected: call emergency services and call as soon as possible.

The TOP-10 most dangerous poisonous plants

  • Giant Bear Claw (Heracleum mantegazzianum): 2 to 4 meter high perennial with 30 to 50 cm umbels, which forms leaves up to one meter in size; not fatal, but causes severe and painful burns if touched with the sap.
  • deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna): Perennial grows up to two meters high and has red-brown, bell-shaped leaves; green, then black berries with a diameter of 10 to 20 mm and a sweet taste develop towards autumn; the toxins scopolamine, atropine and L-hyoscyamine in the berries are fatal to children (3 to 4 pieces).
  • yew (Taxus baccata): Coniferous tree can grow up to 20 meters high; more likely to be found as a hedge in the garden; the red seed shells contain the poison taxin, which is toxic even when it comes into contact with the skin; symptoms etc. diarrhea, dizziness, vomiting, unconsciousness, tachycardia, heart failure (death after about 90 minutes);
  • lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis): the up to 30 cm high spring bloomer is very interesting for the garden because of its attractive, white flowers; also grows in mixed or deciduous forests; forms red, approx. 5 mm large berries; Plant is toxic overall and contains toxic glycosides that act mainly on the circulatory system; causes visual disturbances, drowsiness, blood pressure fluctuations and cardiac arrhythmias that lead to heart failure.
  • daphne (Daphne mezereum): popular in the garden but also at home in deciduous and mixed forests; pink flowers on shrubs up to 2 meters tall, which are already strongly fragrant in spring and later develop into red berries; Toxins in the seeds and bark cause burning in the mouth, swelling of the mucous membranes followed by diarrhea, vomiting and dizziness; often death occurs from a collapsing frill;
  • laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides): small tree with ornamental yellow flowers and pea-like fruits within closed pods; the alkaloids contained in the entire plant lead to muscle cramps and severe fever, to paralysis of the central nervous system and even to respiratory arrest.
  • autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale): small flowers with purple or pink flowers that grow mainly in damp meadows; the arsenic-like poison in the seeds causes rapid symptoms of poisoning (vomiting, stomach cramps, drop in blood pressure and a drastic drop in body temperature); Cause of death after a maximum of two days: respiratory paralysis;
  • euonymus (Euonymus europaea): the shrub, up to six meters high, is mainly native to forests; the reddish capsules during the flowering period from May to June contain the poisonous evonin in their seeds, which leads to diarrhea and stomach cramps; however, the fatal dose is when more than 30 capsules are consumed, so the chance of survival is comparatively high;
  • aconite (Aconitum napellus): its attractive appearance has meant that this highly poisonous, blue-flowering plant, found mainly in mountainous regions, is also valued in ornamental gardens; Contamination (with the alkaloid aconitine) already occurs through skin contact with the tuber; Symptoms numbness of the hands, especially on the skin, and palpitations; Contact can lead to heart failure as a result of respiratory paralysis within three hours.
  • castor bean (Ricinus communis): One to two meter tall ornamental plant with blue-green leaves, red outgrowths on the flowers and highly toxic seeds containing ricin; after cramps, diarrhea and massive balance problems, inflammation, thrombosis and acute kidney failure lead to death.

Important to know: What is growing in my garden!

It is not uncommon for particularly beautiful plants that are found on a walk to be taken into the garden and planted there without any bad intentions. Anyone who knows what he is doing will also tell his children about it and warn them of the possible dangers. Nevertheless, caution is advisable or, in case of doubt, not to grow these plants, also in the interest of possible pets, since you can also enjoy plants that are just as beautiful or even more beautiful, as our following article shows.

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