Eastern and central North America is the home to the ornamental ivy known as Virginia creeper. It features five-leaf groupings of tiny leaves, or leaflets. It is occasionally mistaken for poison ivy, which has leaflets that form clusters of three. Fortunately, unlike poison ivy, Virginia creeper doesn’t contain an oil that can cause rashes. Just repeat yourself, “Leaves of three, let it be; leaves of five, let it thrive,” if you have difficulties remembering which plant is which.
Virginia creeper’s berries and leaves can be poisonous, therefore it’s not entirely non-poisonous. Virginia creeper berries have small crystals called oxalate crystals and resemble purple grapes. Additionally, Virginia creeper leaves contain these crystals. Chewing on the berries or leaves can irritate the throat, lips, tongue, and mouth. Although extremely rare, oxalate crystal-containing plant consumption has been linked to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and trouble swallowing. Typically, the symptoms appear fast and might linger for up to half a day.
A climbing vine called wisteria produces clusters of blue or purple blossoms that dangle and are fragrant. Wisteria seeds are housed in velvety, dangling seed pods. All plant parts include the dangerous compounds lectin and wisterin, which, if ingested, can result in a burning feeling in the mouth, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The seed pods and seeds are thought to be the sections of the plant that are the most deadly. Once they start, these symptoms might linger for up to two days.
You can assist someone who mistakenly comes into contact with Virginia creeper or wisteria by doing the following:
- Wipe their mouth with gentleness.
- To get the plant matter out of their mouth, have them spit while you have them rinse with water.
- To help rinse the residual substance into their stomachs, they can take a few little sips of water.
- Sucking on ice chips or other icy foods may provide pain relief for people whose mouths are inflamed.
- Keep them hydrated by giving them regular, short sips of clear liquids if they are feeling nausea or vomiting.
Check the webPOISONCONTROL online tool for advice or dial Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you believe someone has been exposed to Virginia creeper or wisteria and is experiencing problems.
Human
Wisteria plants are poisonous in all parts, but the pods and seeds are particularly dangerous. Even while severe poisonings are uncommon, it has been documented that exposure to as little as two seeds might have detrimental consequences. Oral burning, stomach ache, diarrhea, and vomiting are among the symptoms. In 1.53.5 hours, digestive problems may start to manifest. Weakness, syncope, vertigo, and confusion have all been reported. It has also been observed that white blood cells have increased.
Usually, symptoms go away in 24 to 48 hours, but in one case, the vertigo and chronic weakness persisted for 57 days. In hazardous exposures, lectins do not have the mitogenic and blood coagulation effects that are observed. Headaches are reported to occur when this plant’s smoke is inhaled.
Is it dangerous to touch wisteria?
Wisteria Wisteria has a seductive charm, but did you know that it is only mildly harmful to cats and dogs? Its seeds, in particular, are harmful in every way.
Are the branches of wisteria poisonous?
Because wisteria doesn’t have a bad taste, dogs may eat deadly amounts of it.
Wisterias are absolutely gorgeous, with cascades of flowing purple blossoms. However, their leaves and blooms can also be dangerous in excessive numbers, and their seeds (and seed pods) are extremely poisonous to dogs.
Even worse, the results take time to manifest. Wisteria also doesn’t taste unpleasant, making it simple for dogs to consume excessive amounts before you realize there is a problem.
Are all wisteria species poisonous?
I’m from central Texas, and I want to grow a native vine that thrives in an area with lots of people, especially youngsters. It is an arch-shaped trellis that is primarily in the sun. I want to grow natural wisteria. What species are found locally? Do our native wisteria’s seeds contain poison?
ANSWER:
Wisteria frutescens is the native wisteria of North America, and all wisteria species have deadly seeds and foliage, according to numerous databases of poisonous plants. If you’re worried about your kids or dogs eating the seeds or vine parts, there are some different native types of climbing vines you might plant.
Passion vine, often known as Maypop, has lovely purple blossoms and isn’t listed in any databases of toxic plants. This vine grows quickly, tolerates drought well, and prefers bright areas. This vine, though, is deciduous.
A native honeysuckle might be a fantastic choice if you’re searching for something with a sweet scent, similar to wisteria. In southern environments, coral honeysuckle is an evergreen shrub that has lovely red blooms and grows best in full sunlight. The native species indicated above isn’t in any of the poisonous plant databases below, but Japanese honeysuckle does appear in one of them.
Visit the Recommended Species page for Central Texas at the Wildflower Center if you want to look at additional options. You may narrow your search using the tools on the right side of the page. Browse the results by selecting “vine from the General Appearance drop-down menu and selecting the “sun checkbox under Light Requirement. Additionally, you might use the Native Plant Database’s “combination search” feature (this will give you a lot more options). Choose “Texas” from the State or Province drop-down menu, “vine” from the Habit drop-down menu, and “sun” from the Light Requirement drop-down menu. If you like a vine and want to know if it is poisonous, you can search for it in the following databases of poisonous plants:
Are wisteria blossoms edible?
Please proceed with caution: although all wisteria species native to the United States feature edible blooms, the seeds and pods are extremely poisonous. Please refrain from consuming any plant or flower unless you are positive it is safe to do so. DO NOT use any part of the plant other than the blooms. PlantSnap is a fantastic tool that can assist in identifying plants and flowers.
Wisteria is among the most enchanting and opulent of all the plants that surround our home. This time of year, the stunning purple blossoms hang down from overhead, their fresh, sweet aroma filling the space. We have a trellis outside our sunroom that has been taken over by wisteria and trumpet vines throughout the years.
I think of it as being stronger, more sweet, and a little overpowering than lilac, and I advise using it sparingly. Undoubtedly, a little goes a long way. Wisteria plants, in contrast to lilacs, contain some extremely hazardous substances and should be handled carefully. Their seeds and seed pods appear to be delicious, but they are poisonous, and even a small amount can be fatal. Therefore, always use caution when foraging and always ensure that you are aware of what you are picking and eating.
The blossoms, which give a floral, slightly bitter, vegetal flavor to salads and other dishes, are safe to eat and have a beautiful fragrance. My hot-to-cold tea type infusion process, which I find maintains delicate flavors in flowers and herbs better than the conventional hot, stove-top method, was motivated by the sight of my wisteria, which were in full bloom. When I used to create skin care products, I recalled reading that when making infusions, you only needed to reheat herbs just enough to let their essence come to the surface. Overheating has the potential to drastically alter flavor and aroma and possibly destroy beneficial phytonutrients. I made this syrup very mild and only used as many flowers as I could cover because the wisteria blossoms have such a strong perfume. Adding more is OK if you prefer a stronger flavor.
I was eager to incorporate Tamworth Distilling’s Chocorua Rye in a cocktail after visiting the nearby New Hampshire distillery, and I figured it would go well with my foraged wisteria syrup and some other regional and seasonal ingredients. It turned up to be a stunning, tangy, and refreshing blue-purple beverage after I added violet liqueur, some frozen blueberries from my own plants (berries from the previous year), and lemon juice to balance things out.
I have a genuine passion for baking, and anytime my husband and I want a treat, I adore whipping up a quick batch of cookies. I was going to make some lemon and coconut cookies, so I figured why not flavor the lemon frosting with some of this gorgeous, fragrant wisteria syrup to go with my wisteria whiskey sour and give it a delicious depth.