To ask is this a toxic bush?? DS ate a berry!

[awwhellno]

So it's a bush in our large communal garden, he climbed up onto the raised beds saw the berries and ate one before I could jump over the bush and reach him. He is 2. I have no idea on plants and I really really hope it's not poisonous!

Sorry to post on here but I'm panicking and I know a lot of you are good with plants.

Thank you everyone. I've called 111 and am waiting a call back from a medic. Quite worried now and am hoping nothing bad will come of it. I'm not sure but he may have spat it out when I was lurching over the bush to grab him but I can't be sure on that.

It's neither a sloe/blackthorn (they have thorns along the stems) nor a blackcurrant. As others have said looks like a laurel.

Sorry, those look like laurel berries to me. Not all laurels have big glossy leaves.

Have you got a minor injuries nearby? Otherwise it’s a&e, I’m afraid.

Is it an oleaster ?

Standard advice for an unknown berry in a child is 6 hours in A&E from the time they've eaten it. 111 wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) accept online plant diagnosis via google.

@ToxicTracey

Standard advice for an unknown berry in a child is 6 hours in A&E from the time they've eaten it. 111 wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) accept online plant diagnosis via google.

Oh god really. He's fine in himself, although I am panicking now. I spoke to 111 on the phone and they advised a paramedic to call me back but haven't heard back yet.

To be honest OP, I’d just head down to A&E, they’re only going to send you there anyway.

Don't wait on a call back it could be hours, just go straight to a&e!

I think it's cherry laurel, it's not sloe or black currant. Most of the cherry laurel plant is poisonous so I think you need to get some medical advice.

It looks like a sarcococca.

I've googled and there are conflicting reports as to whether they're poisonous or not.

I agree that it’s not black currant or sloe. Hope he’s ok

I agree it's laurel - poisonous.

Take him and a branch of the plant with leaves, berries and any flowers, if there are any.

Cherry laurel has large shiny, leaves about 15cm long. That does not look like cherry laurel. It looks a bit like bay (another member of the laurel family). Try crushing a leaf. Does it smell like bay? The berries aren't edible but they aren't very toxic.

It isn't always easy to identify a plant from a photo so best to take him to A&E anyway.

A&E with a sample of leaves and berries asap

I'm fairly sure it's a sarcococca

My youngest did similar a couple of years ago. I called the poisons helpline (not in UK but close by), they said whatever it is then if it's just one berry they should be fine. I'm sure it'll be ok if it's just one.

OP please don't worry plants which are toxic in the UK you still generally need to ingest quite a lot to have much impact.

I mean follow the advice but don't panic I'm sure it will be fine.

There is a Facebook group where admins will identify plants, in case of ingestion, 'plant identification' I think.

Regardless, take your child to A&E now

Go to A&E. it looks like a laurel and that’s where they are going to send you anyway. Take a berry and some leaves. Prepare to be there a while but if you go now; you’ll miss the evening injuries at least.

@MereDintofPandiculation on the gardening thread is good at ID

Thank you again. I have had a call back from the medic and they have said since he is absolutely fine at the moment then basically just wait and see. She said if he were to ingest it properly then we would have seen the effects by now. Obviously to be alert and call 999 if anything changes.

I've calmed down a bit now and am thinking it's not going to be extremely poisonous because it's in a managed communal garden for several blocks of flats - surely they wouldn't be that silly?

Thank you for all your advice, I will put DS in bed with me tonight to be safe but hopefully nothing will come of it.

OP even holly leaves are poisonous so never rely on ‘garden’ plants to be safe as many are not. Glad there are no ill effects.

‘Wait and see’ from 111?
Highly irregular, especially as it’s involving a minor.
I’d go down to A and E armed with the plant or some photos.

m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=144798092849300&ref=content_filter

This Facebook group is excellent true experts in the field.

I won't add my inexpert guess. Join and ask the experts. Once you know for certain what it is, then you can ask 111's further advice if needed

I've calmed down a bit now and am thinking it's not going to be extremely poisonous because it's in a managed communal garden for several blocks of flats - surely they wouldn't be that silly?

You'd think, wouldn't you? But I asked the gardener about the berries in our communal garden and all are poisonous except one 🙄
Hope he's ok.