These Are The Most Common Toxic Plants In Southern Nevada
One of the greatest things about living in Southern Nevada is the ability to enjoy the outdoors year-round. I love it. If you follow me on social media, you probably have noticed I’m outdoors a lot! I go on daily walks with my Boston Terrier, Steve. I also go on lots of weekend hikes with my family, which includes my 7-year-old son, Beckham. We love being outside, but when you have small kids and pets, it’s good to know about the things that can harm them. So, today, I did some research about the most common toxic plants in Southern Nevada. My findings shocked me, because I see a lot of the things on this list on my daily walks. There’s a good chance you do as well… You might even have some of these items in your own front or backyard.
The Most Toxic Plants Might Be In Your Planter Box
Most people don’t realize that the most toxic plants they encounter are growing in their own backyard. A lot of fruits and vegetables are part of the nightshade family, which is incredibly toxic if ingested improperly.
Improperly is the keyword… because when fruits and vegetables ripen, their toxic compounds lower to a level that’s safe to consume. Mostly.
Leaves and vines from the following should still never be eaten because they’re still toxic: blueberries, tomatillos, potatoes, hot peppers, and eggplants are all members of the nightshade family.
These Flowers Are Beautiful To Look At, But Deadly To Consume
Some more common toxic plants in Southern Nevada are flowers. Namely the Oleander and the Lantana. You see both of these flowers all over the city, because they’re gorgeous to look at, but they also do really well in our dry climate. It should be noted that all parts of the Oleander plant are incredibly poisonous if consumed. The plant contains toxic compounds that can affect the heart and even the nervous system.
Another toxic plant that people have around because they’re nice to look at is the Castor Bean Plant. But don’t let its beauty deceive you, this plant is known as the femme fatale of the plant world. While, it’s not illegal to grow the plant in your garden, there are strict laws about extracting the deadly ricin from its beans. Ricin, an incredibly deadly poison, makes the castor bean plant the most dangerous plant in the world. Even consuming one bean can kill a full sized adult.
These Palms Are Everywhere
And finally, the Sago Palm Tree wraps up our list. Again, this is a decorative plant that you see all over the Vegas Valley. All parts of this tree are poisonous if consumed, however it’s the seeds that attract most small animals. So if you’re on a walk with your pup, be on the lookout for seeds on the sidewalk.
For Nevada Poison Control, call 800-222-1222 or click HERE
