The honeysuckle no longer only finds a home in the great outdoors. Many gardeners have brought this climbing plant into their own green paradise. But can you be completely unconcerned or is this plant poisonous?
The berries of the honeysuckle are slightly poisonous and very bitter
Slightly toxic - the dose makes the poison
A member of the honeysuckle family, this plant is mildly poisonous. This applies to all species. Both humans and animals such as dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses are at risk.
Birds, on the other hand, can eat the berries without succumbing to symptoms of poisoning. When they eat the berries, they don't chew the poisonous seeds, but excrete them. Most of the toxins are in the seeds! It is primarily alkaloids and cyanogenic glycosides that cause the toxic effect.
symptoms of poisoning
Anyone who eats 2 berries usually does not have to expect any symptoms. If more than 5 berries are consumed, vomiting, pain in the chest area and a slight fever may occur. From a quantity of 30 berries it gets much more uncomfortable:
- diarrhea
- Vomit
- nausea
- Irritations in the gastrointestinal tract
- sweats
- fever
- seizures
- accelerated pulse
Especially the berries are tempting…
Although the leaves and flowers are also poisonous, the red berries are the most dangerous. Children would be most likely to snack on them because they are reminiscent of currants. But don't panic: the berries taste bitter and children usually eat no more than 2 of them.
tips and tricks
Honeysuckle is not only poisonous internally. In sensitive people, external contact with it can also lead to allergic reactions. Therefore, as a precaution, you should wear gardening gloves when cutting this climbing plant.