What plants are these (and will they kill my kids?)

Smrtnik

So these are poking through my deck, should my kids ingest them how screwed are we? If i need to utterly destroy then, how do i go about that?

http://imgur.com/a/0peBU7s

https://imgur.com/a/06I9Erc

Brainleech

Smrtnik wrote: »

So these are poking through my deck, should my kids ingest them how screwed are we? If i need to utterly destroy then, how do i go about that?

http://imgur.com/a/0peBU7s

https://imgur.com/a/06I9Erc

Solanum dulcamara
Fatal poisons are rare but it happens it's both known as a weed and a herb

JebusUD

I think the first picture is bittersweet nightshade. Which is poisonous, so you'd best pull it out if you have little kids. That stuff was all over my landscaping and it sucked to pull out, it spreads everywhere, but I did it.




https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_dulcamara

Xagar

I have one near my house, from a quick search I believe this is common pokeweed. Internet says they are dangerous without proper preparation. Besides that, the berries are extremely soft and just brushing up against it a bit too hard will get purple everywhere - definitely not something you want with kids.

JebusUD

Yeah I think the second picture is Pokeweed. Best to pull that out too, unless your kids are old enough to understand 100% not to try eating it.

Smrtnik

Yeah I'm worried the 4yo might think the pokeweed is blueberries (which she loves) and the 1yo will put anything in his mouth.

spool32

yeah remove both of those, bright colored berries and small children do not mix well

Like, it kinda doesn't even matter exactly what they are, just get rid of any vegetation in the yard that your kids will be tempted to consume.

mts

What if you are actually growing berries (blackberry, raspberry, banana, etc.)

Xaquin

pokeweed shoots are technically edible. The berries are NOT edible in any way shape or form.

I'd pull them both and get the roots too

spool32

mts wrote: »

What if you are actually growing berries (blackberry, raspberry, banana, etc.)

imo if your 4yr old can manage to pick bananas off a tree you've got larger problems

see317

spool32 wrote: »

mts wrote: »

What if you are actually growing berries (blackberry, raspberry, banana, etc.)

imo if your 4yr old can manage to pick bananas off a tree you've got larger problems

Well, sure, but the bigger problem with a yard full of beautiful bunches of ripe bananas is that they tend to attract the deadly black tarantula by providing a secure shelter that makes them hard to see.
And you just don't want to see a four year old eating one of those.

Smrtnik

I asked my landscape guy (nothing fancy, just mow lawn every 2-3 weeks when it's growing, and once a year yard cleanup of leaves and such) if he could take off it and he goes "my guys don't go anywhere near your poison plants" so i guess i need to find a specialist.

MichaelLC

Just get some gloves and a long sleeve shirt you're willing to toss. May need to lose the pants too.

Or sign up for Comcast and tell them you want the coax installed by your prize winning flowers and to be very careful. They'll rip them out for sure.

JebusUD

Smrtnik wrote: »

I asked my landscape guy (nothing fancy, just mow lawn every 2-3 weeks when it's growing, and once a year yard cleanup of leaves and such) if he could take off it and he goes "my guys don't go anywhere near your poison plants" so i guess i need to find a specialist.

Nightshade is you have to eat them or like... soak in a bath of them poisonous. Not poison ivy poisonous. It won't hurt you by contact, just wear some gloves and long sleeves. The pokeweed can give you a rash but if you wear heavy clothing and gloves and googles, you will be fine.

finral

The second is definitely pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). Many parts of that plant are poisonous, including the berries. The sap can also irritate some peoples skin. Put on gloves and pull it out. You can likely just get rid of it with your yard waste, or failing that, just bag it up with your garbage. definitely not safe with small children around.

Lovely

Hmph. That's not cool that berries that look so yummy are poisonous.

........ and that thought alone makes me realize that it's a miracle that I lived to adulthood.

Xaquin

Smrtnik wrote: »

I asked my landscape guy (nothing fancy, just mow lawn every 2-3 weeks when it's growing, and once a year yard cleanup of leaves and such) if he could take off it and he goes "my guys don't go anywhere near your poison plants" so i guess i need to find a specialist.

You absolutely don't need a specialist. Get a shovel, dig them up, put them in a yard waste bag, and toss them. Your problem will be 100% solved so long as you get the roots. The only thing you'd have to worry about is the pokeweed staining your clothes.

Darkewolfe

Also, please be aware that the roots of the pokeweed are the most toxic part. Just use gloves, wash up after, etc.

Smrtnik

The nightshade is very accessible, but the pokeweed is halfway under my deck and i worry about getting into essentially a crawl space trying to dig it out.

I asked for quotes from two garden specialists near me, but it's holiday weekend so i haven't heard anything yet.

zepherin

Lovely wrote: »

Hmph. That's not cool that berries that look so yummy are poisonous.

........ and that thought alone makes me realize that it's a miracle that I lived to adulthood.

Right. I used to eat raspberries off a neighbor’s bush that overhung into the alleyway behind our house.

ceres

We had it drilled into us "if you find it outside don't eat it," which is good advice and has stuck with me, but for some reason it stuck with me so well that I get incredibly nervous about eating vegetables from a friend's garden that have never been sprayed or anything and have always been contained within the plot even while they're standing there doing it because "plants outside."

Burtletoy

Was just randomly suggested this article on the Firefox new tab page and had to share.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-did-this-poisonous-plant-become-one-of-the-american-south-s-most-long-standing-staples?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Appearently you can cook and eat that poisonous plant!