A Safe space for little Gardeners

Children explore and discover the world around them through their senses.  They gather information and understanding about their surroundings through touching, looking in wonder, smelling, listening to the sounds of voices and birdsong and, particularly during the first 24 months, through tasting just about anything.  It is exactly this curiosity-driven tendency to put things in their mouths that can put children at risk when they encounter potentially toxic plants in the home or garden.

Steps to take for a Child-safe Garden

While it is important and necessary to allow young children to explore their world, and impossible and impractical to restructure your whole garden or indoor space, parents and caregivers must become aware of and be able to identify those plants that do pose a particular risk to children and take measures to create a safe space for exploration.  Some practical steps would be to:

1.  Identify and remove dangerous plants (list to follow).  Familiarise yourself with the plants in your garden and home and identify those that may pose a real risk.  Consider removing or relocating these to areas that are out of your child’s reach.
2. Set up boundaries early on.  Although young children don’t fully grasp cause and effect yet, basic garden rules can still be taught.  Teaching them that some plants are only for looking at, while others can be safely picked and eaten (e.g. from the veggie patch or herb pots) can set a safe foundation to move on from.
3. Supervise outdoor play.  Keep a close eye on children during outdoor play to prevent any accidents.  If you have a large garden, it might be helpful to designate a safe play area, where no toxic plants are allowed, and they can explore without any risk. 
4. Use raised garden beds or fences.  Raised garden beds, pots placed on higher surfaces or temporarily fencing off specific areas can keep toxic plants out of reach.  This can be especially helpful with plants that you don’t want to remove and only want to restrict access to.
5. Educate caregivers, family and older siblings.  Ensure that everyone in the household is aware of potential toxic plants to look out for.
6. Pay attention to indoor plants.  Certain indoor plants also contain toxins and if they are within easy reach of crawling babies or toddlers, should be moved to higher shelves if needed.
7. Look for alternatives.  If you have a new garden or want to revamp it, consider planting some of the many beautiful and child-safe plants, slowing you to create a lush garden without the worry. 

Identifying dangerous plants: A Guide for Parents

While serious poisoning by garden plants is very uncommon, a small number of garden plants are more toxic and could cause severe poisoning or skin irritations.  Most plants are safe to grow provided they are treated with respect. Remember, they are beautiful ornamental plants – not meant to be eaten.

• Euphorbia species – the milky sap in the leaves and stems can cause skin burns and irritation and stomach upset if ingested.
• Nerium oleander – all parts of the plant are very toxic and ingesting it can cause extreme nausea and irregular heart rate.  The Oleander is considered an invasive species in South Africa and is not for sale in garden centres but can still be found in many older gardens.
• Datura spp. – Flowers, seeds and leaves will cause hallucinations, elevated heart rate, seizures and possible fatality.  It is considered an invasive species and is not sold in garden centres, but they do often pop up in gardens as a weed.  Remove at once.
• Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) – all parts of the plant are toxic and ingestion may be fatal.   It is considered an invasive species and is not sold in garden centres, but they do often pop up in gardens as a weed.  Remove at once.

• Lantana camara – leaves and berries can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even liver damage.  Lantana is considered an invasive species in South Africa and is not for sale in garden centres but can still be found in many older gardens.
• Moonflower (Brugmansia) – all parts of the plant are highly toxic and ingestion can be fatal.
• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) – all parts of the plant, especially flowers and leaves, will cause nausea and vomiting and could lead to heart failure if consumed in large quantities.
• Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)  – flowers and leaves will cause swelling and irritation in the mouth and throat and intense abdominal pain.
• Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia spp.) – leaves and stems will cause severe mouth and throat irritation, swelling and digestive distress.
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp) – leaves and flowers will cause burning and swelling of the mouth, difficulty swallowing and nausea.
• Philodendron spp. – All parts of the plant will cause mouth and throat irritation, drooling and swelling.

With careful planning, plant selection, and a few protective measures, your garden will become a space where young explorers and future gardeners can freely engage with nature, developing a lifelong love for plants and the outdoors.

Are you unsure about the safety of any plants in your garden? Please feel free contact us for advice.