Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Rumors of Poison
For me, a true harbinger of spring is the blooming of the Euphorbias. The family is huge ... so many euphorbias that look so different... some look like full-on cactus, others are lovely, fluffy plants that are perfect in many different styles of gardens. I have a hard time designing without them, but I often have to because the public is afraid of them. While I am all for people in general and clients in particular informing themselves about plants, a little information can be a bad thing. Because of its milky, latex-like sap, those sensitive to latex can have a dermatological reaction to Euphorbias. As a result, these beauties have found their way onto a few toxic plant lists. There is a popular Mommies' web group in LA that sent up an alarm about Euphorbias, probably because somebody's cousin's kid got a rash, and suddenly anybody who has a child is completely freaked out about the possibility of these plants being in their garden. Meanwhile, most of these same people have 10ft tall oleander hedges providing privacy from their neighbors... oleander is not just a little toxic, it is hugely poisonous ... but will that mature hedge come out on the off chance that little Tallulah may swallow a mouthfull of it's leaves while playing salad chef? (remember, little Tallulah is a Hollywood baby...) Not a chance. The wonderful, versatile Euphorbia is a scapegoat. If someone in the household is allergic or reactive to the plant, take it out, by all means - but check out the list of plants that have some level of toxicity in them! Should we avoid using all of them 'just in case'? Am I being insensitive? Tell me ... I can take it!
Nope, you're not being sensitive. I totally hear you on this one... euphorbia is the latest villan of the plant world. I've gone so far as to dab the sap on my arm to demonstrate to clients that their kids won't die from it! There are more appropriate things to worry about kids ingesting.
Thank you!
It can be maddening, can't it? I've been tempted to lick the sap, but then the clients would think I'm crazy. And with my luck, my tongue would be the only part of me that is latex sensitive, and I'd get a gnarly tongue rash.
By the way, it's an honor to have you comment here! I'm a fan...