Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

what's all this about laburnums being poisonous?

58 replies

mogwai · 03/06/2006 23:04

We have a lovely one in our garden. We cut the garden back quite a bit last summer, and since then the laburnum has really grown. It's gorgeous at the moment, sprawling outwards onto the lawn.

However, we have an 11 month old baby and I'm really worried about this tree being poisonous.

My husband reckons it's the seeds that are poisonous and that it will be ok in a month's time when the blossoms have fallen off and died.

(he knows nothing about gardening though!!)

Our lawn is covered in little yellow petals at the moment, my heart is in mty mouth and I can;t really let the baby play there.

What advice would you give me and should we remove it?

OP posts:
edam · 03/06/2006 23:06

AFAIK your dh is right, it's the seeds that are the problem.

edam · 03/06/2006 23:09

\link{http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/TreeGallery/laburnumc.htm\google} found this

mogwai · 03/06/2006 23:31

thanks Edam that's really helpful.

What do you think about the pods? How long would they stay poisonous for?

There will be loads of them - the tree really has grown and it's overhanging the lawn lots.

I suppose there's no way of getting rid of the seeds from the lawn. Such an awful shame to get rid of the tree but what's the point of a garden that you can't let your children play in?

OP posts:
PrincessPeaHead · 04/06/2006 21:23

don't be ridiculous - just make sure your dd doesn't eat the seeds! you have max 1 more year to watch her, then she will know not to eat them, don't cut down a tree because of your paranoia.

honestly.

I bet you have loads of plants in your garden which are poisonous (I know I do), but children don't generally go around eating them

VeniVidiVickiQV · 04/06/2006 21:25

Yes, seed pods on lupins and broom are the same. But agree with PPH.

liath · 04/06/2006 21:37

Me & my sisters grew up with a labernum in our garden - all survived! A friend at school fed a load of seeds to her brother (told him they were peas Shock!) - I think the GP gave him something to make him sick and he was fine.

mogwai · 04/06/2006 21:54

don't mince your words PPP

I'd never have worried but a landscape gardener gave us a quote years ago and straight away told us to get rid of the tree if we were considering having children.

I don't think it's remotely ridiculous to be worried about a poisonous tree in your garden when you have a small child. And it may be a maximum of a year until she starts to understand not to eat the pods, but if we have more children, we'll have to go through it again and again.

Honestly.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 04/06/2006 21:57

I agree with PPH

There are LOADS of things a child can eat in the garden that are poisonous

They plant laburnums in SCHOOL GARDENS and public parks - they are just one of MANY poisonous plants

The first lesson of the Outside World is: DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH

Teach 'em well

edam · 04/06/2006 21:57

Mogwai, we had a laburnam tree when I was little. My mother told us not to eat the seeds and we survived!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 04/06/2006 22:00

I have to rescue things from the garden from DS ALL the time atm.

morningpaper · 04/06/2006 22:00

Hyacinth, Narcissus, Daffodil Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal.
Oleander Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. Affects the heart, produces severe digestive upset and has caused death.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane), Elephant Ear All parts Intense burning and irritation of the mouth and tongue. Death can occur if base of the tongue swells enough to block the air passage of the throat.
Rosary Pea, Castor Bean Seeds Fatal. A single Rosary Pea seed has caused death. One or two Castor Bean seeds are near the lethal dose for adults.
FLOWER GARDEN PLANTS
Larkspur Young plant, seeds Digestive upset, nervous excitement, depression. May be fatal.
Monkshood Fleshy roots Digestive upset and nervous excitement.
Autumn Crocus, Star of Bethlehem Bulbs Vomiting and nervous excitement.
Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves, flowers Irregular heart beat and pulse, usually accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion.
Iris Underground stems Severe-but not usually serious-digestive upset.
Foxglove Leaves Large amounts cause dangerously irregular heartbeat and pulse, usually digestive upset and mental confusion. May be fatal.
Bleeding Heart Foliage, roots May be poisonous in large amounts. Has proved fatal to cattle.
VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANTS
Rhubarb Leaf blade Fatal. Large amounts of raw or cooked leaves can cause convulsions, coma, followed rapidly by death.
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
Daphne Berries Fatal. A few berries can kill a child.
Wisteria Seeds, pods Mild to severe digestive upset. Many children are poisoned by this plant.
Golden Chain Bean-like capsules in which the seeds are suspended Severe poisoning. Excitement, staggering, convulsions and coma. May be fatal.
Laurels, Rhododendrons, Azaleas All parts Fatal. Produces nausea and vomiting, depression, difficult breathing, prostration and coma.
Jasmine Berries Fatal. Digestive disturbance and nervous symptoms.
Lantana Camara (Red Sage) Green berries Fatal. Affects lungs, kidneys, heart and nervous system. Grows in the southern U.S. And in moderate climates.
Yew Berries, foliage Fatal. Foliage more toxic than berries. Death is usually sudden without warning symptoms.
TREES AND SHRUBS
Wild and cultivated cherries Twigs, foliage Fatal. Contains a compound that releases cyanide when eaten. Gasping, excitement and prostration are common symptoms.
Oaks Foliage, acorns Affects kidneys gradually. Symptoms appear only after several days or weeks. Takes a large amount for poisoning.
Elderberry All parts, especially roots Children have been poisoned by using pieces of the pithy stems for blowguns. Nausea and digestive upset.
Black Locust Bark, sprouts, foliage Children have suffered nausea, weakness and depression after chewing the bark and seeds.
PLANTS IN WOODED AREAS
Jack-in-the-Pulpit All parts, especially roots Like Dumb Cane, contains small needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate that cause intense irritation and burning of the mouth and tongue.
Moonseed Berries Blue, purple color, resembling wild grapes. May be fatal.
Mayapple Apple, foliage, roots Contains at least 16 active toxic principles, primarily in the roots. Children often eat the apple with no ill effects, but several apples may cause diarrhea.
Mistletoe Berries Fatal. Both children and adults have died from eating the berries.
PLANTS IN SWAMP OR MOIST AREAS
Water Hemlock All parts Fatal. Violent and painful convulsions. A number of people have died from hemlock.
PLANTS IN FIELDS
Buttercups All parts Irritant juices may severely injure the digestive system.
Nightshade All parts, especially the unripened berry Fatal. Intense digestive disturbance and nervous symptoms.
Poison Hemlock All parts Fatal. Resembles a large wild carrot.
Jimson Weed (Thorn Apple) All parts Abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence and coma. Common cause of poisoning. Has proved fatal.

goosey · 04/06/2006 22:01

As a childminder Ofsted insist that I make sure there are no poisonous plants growing in my garden.
If your child were poisoned at school or nursery you would sue. It's just not a risk worth taking.
It's like saying 'oh well it's only another year or so of worrying about our pond's safety' and worrying that your child will get through any protection or someone will forget to shut the gate. Just remove the tree and be safe the same as any sensible parent would fill in any pond.

morningpaper · 04/06/2006 22:03

Daffodil bulbs can kill you

You don't dig 'em all up

VeniVidiVickiQV · 04/06/2006 22:04

Morningpaper, in that comprehensive list, is it worth pointing out that ALOT of those plants listed are used medicinally as well?

SauerKraut · 04/06/2006 22:06

I year more to watch her??!!!! My brother and I ate laburnum seeds at ages 7 and 8- we too pretended they were peas in a pod! We were rushed to hospital and underwent a thoroughly nasty experience which I still remember vividly at age 33. Lucky we got there in time. It was my stepfather's favourite tree but he cut it down. Get rid of it!

nikkie · 04/06/2006 22:09

Also aubergine leaves/potato leaves
Morning paper-elderberry all parts?but you can use the berries and flowers?

Anyone been in the poison garden at Alnwick Castle gardens? Realy interesting!

nikkie · 04/06/2006 22:10

According to the tour guide in the poison garden lots of the plants are being used to make medicines.

SaintGeorge · 04/06/2006 22:10

Hang on a sec, how old is the tree and how old is the house?

How many families have grown up there and never had to cut it down?

Prune it when you have kids around, but let the poor bloody thing grow in peace.

goosey · 04/06/2006 22:12

In the summer I take any small children out to play on my lawn. They all pick things up and put them in their mouths. It's normal behaviour for babies and toddlers. The 3-5yr olds are allowed to play outside within my hearing only. It's good for their growing independence. The know the garden rules and repeat them to me when they go out to play ie 'No climbing on the fences', 'No picking the plants/flowers' and 'No putting things in your mouth'. I still wouldn't trust them though.

squarer · 04/06/2006 22:18

I have a fair few poisonous plants in my garden - I was worried about DS for a while as he is a mouth-putter-inner, but he is more interested in riding his seesaw (YeeeHaaa!!), pootling about in his cars and stomping in puddles than putting stuff in his mouth. And if he goes to do so it is a sudden "uuggh!! yuck! no! dirty!!!" type reaction from me regardless. Obviously if he had picked a whole plate of foxglove leaves for a scoffing I would have taken them off him.

My friends mum and dad had a laburnham tree we regularly used to climb and knew it was poisonous. We must have been taught that as tinies. Just teach, or get a seesaw!! I have become somewhat lacsadaiscal (sp I know I know) as time has gone on. I remember listening to someone talking about kids and metal toys not being suited to each other and snorting as DS played happily (and safely) with my old cars at my mums Smile

EmmyLou · 04/06/2006 22:54

Our neighbours have a Laburnum that over hangs our patio area and drops yellow petals (ahhh!) and brown seed pods (boooo!). The tree isn't ours so we can't do anthing about it. They did cut it back quite vigorously one year. But I sweep up regularly and have other distractions in the garden such as toys and a plastic potting tray under the garden tap with lots of pots and cans for filling from the hopepipe left on dribble (sorry, southern hosepipe ban victims!) and so far have been OK. There are many things in the garden which are poisonous and I tell my kids not to put anything in their mouth except chives - which for some strange reason they love.

SaintGeorge · 04/06/2006 22:57

If it overhangs your property your are legally allowed to prune back the overhang, but you must return everything to them.

Much easier to just have a gentle word and ask them if the can at least strip the branches on that side, especially whilst your kids are young.

EmmyLou · 04/06/2006 23:02

TBH SaintG, I hadn't even thought of asking them to trim our side - they are nice neighbours too so I'm sure they would do it. I do remember a local tree surgeon who came to thin out one of our trees saying that you really had to chew the seeds for them to be poisonous (and he has 3 kids) so maybe that was in the back of my mind and I haven't worried too much about it as a result (other than sweeping up regularly when they drop the pods).

EEK. I'm getting twitchy now!

SaintGeorge · 04/06/2006 23:08

Oh if you are happy to sweep then that is even better, the tree can grow happily away then Smile

Didn't mean to worry you, just thought you sounded fed up about the neighbour's tree.

CountessDracula · 04/06/2006 23:35

we had a laburnum in our small london garden when our dog was a pup and I was paranoid about her eating the pods

However we grew up with one in the garden, I think yoyu have to eat a lot to get ill.