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Foxglove toxicity

9 replies

Svrider · 03/05/2012 19:03

I have just spent the morning planting foxgloves with my 3year old DS
Just noticed it says toxic in really small writing on the packet!
How toxic are the seeds
How toxic are the flowers?

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PinTHISonYerCabbageMister · 03/05/2012 19:07

Toxic if you eat it (in reasonable quantities, say a handful of leave) because of the digitalin it in which affects the heart. Not toxic if you've planted the seeds and then spent half an hour licking your hands. But don't eat the flowers/leaves once they're up, obviously...

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PinTHISonYerCabbageMister · 03/05/2012 19:08

Leaves, obviously. Filthy keyboard making letters stick.

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Methe · 03/05/2012 19:13
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Svrider · 03/05/2012 20:18

Ok thanks guys
I'm goin to throw compost with seeds in away, and replace with something a bit less scary
Can't believe I didnt think about the risk b4 I let my 3 year old plant them Sad
Thanks again

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CuttedUpPear · 04/05/2012 08:44

OP please don't throw the seeds away. I'm a professional gardener and my DS grew up toddling around at work with me. I taught him and DD that some plants were poisonous.
The important thing to remember is that they are only poisonous if you eat them. Which is really unlikely. There is no need to shy away from beautiful plants, many more of them are harmful if eaten than you would think.

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Svrider · 04/05/2012 22:50

Hi cutted up pear
I've given the pre-potted seeds to my elderly next door neighbour
He was well pleased
I'm a bit OTT when it comes to safety, and just couldn't have them at home
At least I can see them from my bedroom window!

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CuttedUpPear · 05/05/2012 00:14

Sounds like a good compromise. But don't be afraid of poisonous plants - it's good to educate your kids early. When you're ready.

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EauRouge · 05/05/2012 09:13

Good call, I'm not normally one of those mums that sticks bubble wrap over sharp corners but we had a trip to A&E last year after my DM wasn't sure if DD1 (2.6yo at the time) had eaten a foxglove leaf (she was putting in her mouth and spitting bits out). Fortunately she was fine but it was pretty scary and while I was at the hospital with DD, my DM was in the garden digging all the foxgloves up.

Shame really, they are so pretty :( lots of plants are poisonous but some are worse than others. Ah well, I'll plant some more in a few years when the DDs are older.

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gardeninggal · 07/05/2012 23:41

It's good to be cautious about the plants you use in your garden but I agree CuttedUpPear the best thing you can do is educate your children about the plants. The age of the children is another thing to consider. I worked with children under 5yrs and we grew lots of plants at the nursery both edible and ones that had some risk and we never had any incidents where a child ingested anything dangerous.

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