Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To warn you all about the dangers of Foxgloves?

260 replies

Outfoxgloved · 26/01/2016 21:41

Yes. I am unreasonable for sticking this in AIBU. Yes I'm fully aware that it's not at all unreasonable to warn someone about something dangerous.

Yes I'm also aware this post outs me, and so that's why I've name changed.

I'm hoping it's not against the rules to share a blog here? If it is, feel free to delete :) I shall take it like a woman.

Some of you may know the other me on here (since you know the story) please don't out me!

The story of what happened to DD2 last year

OP posts:
OneofTHOSEWomen · 27/01/2016 11:26

Someone gave me a tray of extra plants they had last year, I planted them thinking they would probably die. By the summer I had these enormous plants with 6 foot tall spike of pale yellow flowers. Had no idea what they were. I knew foxgloves were poisonous but thought they only came in pinky purple and were only about a foot tall! I looked them up, pulled them up later that week. The person who gave them to had known what they were, knew they were poisonous, knew I had kids who eat stuff from the garden because we mostly plant edible plants.

Will be doing a hunt around for any new plants that have self seeded after reading your blog post OP. Glad your DD is ok now.

Becstarlenski · 27/01/2016 11:30

I'm so glad that your little girl is ok, it must of been horrendous for you all.
I have to say I did know they we're poisonous, but didn't know the severity of it.
Thank you for sharing your story xx

Oriunda · 27/01/2016 11:40

I've shared on FB? Totally off topic, but I am loving Hinterland - makes Aberystwyth look great!

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 11:42

Oneofthose, oh yes, that's a good point! Foxgloves come in lots of different colours. The ones you'll see in hedgerows are usually a pinky-purple, but ornamental ones vary a lot.

OP posts:
Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 11:42

Thanks Oriunda, we are a murderous people :o

OP posts:
steppemum · 27/01/2016 11:48

I think it is important to understand that the poisonous plants in our garden are not all poisonous in the same way.

For example, bulbs always appear in the list, but I won't be pulling out my daffs and crocus any time soon, because the poisonous part is the bulb, and digging up and eating the bulb is pretty unlikely.

Also some plants are only poisonous in parts, so yew berries, and laburnum seeds, rhubarb leaves etc are the problem.

Some are also poisonous in that they will make you sick, but no more.

I think what is so scary about foxgloves is how poisonous they are, how little you need to ingest and that every part of the plant is poisonous.

I knew all about digitalis, but though it was the seeds and flowers, and I remember I used to play with foxgloves at a child, wearing the flowers on my fingers and pretending they were gloves.

Oriunda · 27/01/2016 11:48

No seriously - great as in beautiful. Makes me want to visit.

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 11:52

Oriunda, you should. I think it's the most beautiful place in the world. But I admit I am biased. And we're not that murdery.

Steppe, that's how I see it too. Daffodil bulbs are planted. Others are out of reach (although of course dangerous is they drop in the wrong place). Holly is prickly.

Foxgloves are soft and fluffy. They have velvety flowers that fit nicely on your fingers. There's something attractive about them.

And of course they're at toddler height.

OP posts:
SmallGreenBouncyBall · 27/01/2016 11:58

...and the dormant version looks kind of cabbagey, booring, harmless...

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:02

Yup. Lovely bushy foliage.

OP posts:
miaowmix · 27/01/2016 12:04

Gosh how appalling, so relieved for you about the outcome, what a terrifying story. Thanks for sharing. Thanks (Flowers seem inappropriate here but I hope you know what I mean Smile)

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:06

:)

I accept all flowers. I'll just put them up high... Just in case :o

OP posts:
miaowmix · 27/01/2016 12:11
Grin
YouKnowNothingRickGrimes · 27/01/2016 12:18

Absolutely awful. A couple of years agony cat ate the petals of a foxglove that was at the bottom of our garden. He disappeared officer the fence and didn't come back all day. Eventually at 9 ok ok that evening I called him and he threw himself back into our garden, managed to make it to the back door before collapsing. He was panting awfully then had a massive seizure. He died in my arms. We took the plant out immediately as we have 2 young children and I had no idea it was so dangerous

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:19

Maybe I should just accept cake from now on.

OP posts:
YouKnowNothingRickGrimes · 27/01/2016 12:19

Our cat not agony

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:20

Oh, youknow, that's so sad! I'm so sorry. It's just a horrible way to go :(

OP posts:
Tram10 · 27/01/2016 12:32

So glad your little girl has recovered, but what a traumatic time for you all !

I had absolutely no clue about foxgloves being poisonous, my kids are 12 and 8, and I am an over cautious Mom who thought I had every danger covered.

Your experience has made me decide to educate myself on any poisonous plants that we could possibly come across.

Thank you for sharing your story.

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:33

No problem Tram :) try not to let it worry you. You're long past the dangerous age! But letting your dcs know which plants are very poisonous is useful knowledge for everyone.

OP posts:
TheHauntedFishtank · 27/01/2016 12:36

Thank you, you have prompted me to educate myself properly on poisonous plants before DS and the cats get themselves into trouble Cake

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:49

:)

This is like on big therapy session for me.

When something unexpected, pointless, and potentially extremely damaging happens, I think you try to find some kind of meaning.

I was speaking to a friend about it earlier. She said that maybe the meaning wasn't for me. It was for other people. And in being for other people, it became meaningful for me too.

I think she might be right.

OP posts:
emummy · 27/01/2016 12:51

steppemum all the above ground parts of the daffodil are poisonous, although I think unlikely to be fatal, they will cause abdo pain, vomiting, diarrhoea.
OP, glad your daughter has recovered and thank you for sharing your story.

tinyterrors · 27/01/2016 12:55

Thanks for this op, I'm so glad Esme is okay now.

I knew foxgloves were poisonous thanks to an episode of Casualty from when I was at school. However I thought it was only the flower that was poisonous and that at worst it was an hallucinogen, I had no idea it could be deadly never mind in such small amounts.

I've always taught my dcs never to eat any berries, flowers or leaves because they can be dangerous.

Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:58

As I understand it, the flowers are the least poisonous bit (although I'm happy to be corrected). Foxgloves do cause hallucinations too, particularly in mild, longer term poisoning. But if you want hallucinations foxglove is not the way to go. They will come alongside violent vomiting and stomach cramps at the very least. Not pretty.

OP posts:
Original poster
Outfoxgloved · 27/01/2016 12:58

(The flowers are still very poisonous thought)

OP posts: