Toxic Plants

<p>For centuries toxic plants have been well known throughout history and claiming their share of victims, including Greek philosopher Socrates. He drank hemlock as his preferred method of carrying out his death sentence.</p><p>Deadly Nightshade (<i>Atropa belladonna</i>), Castor Bean (<i>Ricinus communis</i>) and Oleander (<i>Nerium oleander</i>) are but a few known to be lethal. Plants use their toxins as a defense mechanism to keep predators at bay, whether insects, pets or humans. And coming in contact with one could have dire consequences...perhaps tightening your throat and closing your airway, intense nausea or vomiting, and in some cases, prove to be quite deadly.</p><p>It's likely that when you step out into your garden and landscape there are toxic plants all around. Sometimes unknowingly, that beautiful flower or shrub you have growing in your yard, could be highly toxic. So it's important to know which plants are, and where to look if you come in contact with one.</p><p>On this episode, expert horticulturist <strong>Stacey Hilvela</strong>, of <a href="https://www.provenwinners.com/" target="_blank">Proven Winners</a>, joins us to explore the world of toxic plants, explaining the different types of toxins, how to learn if your plants may be toxic and so much more. It's an episode you'll want to pay attention to, because you never know what toxic plants are lurking in your garden and landscape.</p><p>Credible sites for researching toxic plants:</p><p><a href="https://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_Scientific_Name_685/" target="_blank">University of California - Davis</a> </p><p><a href="http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/" target="_blank">Cornell University</a> </p><p><a href="https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/find_a_plant/" target="_blank">North Carolina State University</a></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST</strong><br />Stacey Hirvela at Proven Winners - <a href="https://twitter.com/proven_winners">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ProvenWinners">Facebook</a> a