Poisonous plants: Vets4Pets reveal which plants can harm pets
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Gardening fans have ideal weather to curate their hobby right now, with glorious wall-to-wall sunshine and temperatures clocking in above 25C. Forecasters don’t expect this to change, giving people a wide window to watch their summer plants blossom. But as they spend more and more time outside, they need to keep their eyes peeled for some shady figures in their Sun-soaked gardens.
Giant hogweed
An infamous plant in the UK, giant hogweed is dangerous to both plants and humans.
Their canopy-like flowers grow high and wide, preventing other plants from getting sunlight.
They also produce an abrasive sap which causes burns and blisters on contact with human skin.
Japanese knotweed
Knotweed has started cropping up in green spaces over the last few months and isn’t a threat to humans.
The flower’s strength allows it to puncture most surfaces, messing with home foundations and even electric cables or pipes.
Experts recommend calling professionals to eradicate the weed, and people are legally required to deal with it before it spreads.
Hemlock
Hemlock has a long and sordid history in literature, notably featuring in the witches’ cauldron in Macbeth.
The invasive flower is also highly dangerous in real life, despite being a member of the carrot family.
Hemlock produces coniine, a neurotoxin that, even in small doses, can cause rapid death from respiratory failure.
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Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam’s pretty flowers conceal a dangerous purpose.
The riverbank weed can penetrate gardens and smother any other plants in its path.
Allowing it to grow or spreading its seeds could fetch criminal charges in the UK.
Wolfsbane
Another pretty plant, wolfsbane blooms with purple blossoms in the autumn and winter.
But much like the other plants on the list, coming into contact with it warrants immediate medical advice.
Wolfsbane can cause laboured breathing, nausea, weak, irregular heartbeats and cold, clammy skin.
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