Diana Grant (author) from United Kingdom on October 27, 2013: @Lorelei Cohen: We used to have one in our garden when I lived in Africa. In warm locales, Helleborus orientalis can bloom outdoors at Christmastime. this was very helpful - many on this list I had no idea about! Hellebore care tips: The leathery foliage of hellebore flowers looks best when sheared in late winter just before new growth emerges. I suffer from High BP. I am a keen gardener who tend to concentrate on growing veg and fruit, so I do have some awareness of what not to eat or touch without gloves. Thnaks for such an informative and unique information. Genus name comes from the Greek words bora meaning "food" and helein meaning "injures/destroys" in reference to the plant’s toxic leaves, stems and roots which are poisonous to humans if ingested. Melanie Wilcox from Pennsylvania, USA on March 25, 2014: I'm amazed of just how unaware we are of what is poisonous and what is not. Some varieties of worm remain in the stomach so this treatment may sometimes have been successful. In addition to the direct effect of the toxins contained in these plants, they may interact negatively with prescription medications. I knew hellebore were deadly to people but did not know the seeds and sap through the skin were, oleander I knew, obviously nightshade and hemlock also, and I read daffodils were to dogs and people when I looked it up. Medical Uses: Oleander contains the principal cardiac glycosides oleandrin, which can be used instead of digitalis, and neriine, as well as folinerin and digitoxigenin. However, it is best to avoid ingestion and contact with milky sap. Vinca minor (periwinkle), a poisonous plant. Drying or storage of plant material will not destroy these toxins. While this can often be successfully treated if caught early, it is recommended that you do what you can to keep your pet calm after you return home to avoid any unnecessary stress on his or her heart. The plant is also harmful to cattle, horses and other livestock, but generally only when … Great Lens! Vinca is evergreen and low-lying and gradually spreads, so needs to be kept under control. I already knew that many of these plants were poisonous, but some surprised me, and dozens of them grow in my yard. ;-) So sorry to read about your experience with harvesting Hellebore. It grows wild in Mediterranean countries. Poison Symptoms: TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Some varieties were used in the past to treat worms in children, the idea being to expel the worms by vomiting. In common with many of the ... 2. Nancy Carol Brown Hardin from Las Vegas, NV on May 30, 2015: I knew about oleander, didn't know about the others. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. False hellebore is also toxic. The Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, is fairly low growing, with palmate leaves. Check out our illustrated list of selected poisonous and non-poisonous plants. I was just wondering what was causing a skin reaction as I was pulling & trimming wayward Vinca... and next door's dog rolls in it! You need to be particularly wary of poisonous plants if there are children around—they love red and white berries, and it is so easy for them to snap the stems of plants which then exude poisonous sap. Hellebores are useful plants in the garden, because they grow well in shade or half-sun, and have ornate large green palmate leaves which fill up empty spaces in winter when other plants have died back. Epipremnum (devil’s ivy) - poisonous; skin & eye irritant Euonymus (spindle tree) - somewhat poisonous Euphorbia (spurge, poinsettia) - poisonous; skin & eye irritant NB: Poinsettia (E. pulcherrima) is considerably less toxic than other Euphorbia species. 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