Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - September 13, 2014
From: Round Rock, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Poisonous Plants
Title: Are Castor Bean Leaves Toxic to Pets?
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I understand that the beans of the castor plant on lethal if chewed on. Are the leaves that toxic? I would love to plant this plant and not let it flower, but I do have visiting grandchildren and dogs so I want to make sure that the leaves aren't as toxic. Of course the children are supervised, but not the dog.ANSWER:
The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has an excellent website that lists plants that are toxic or non-toxic to pets. Since castor beans (Ricinus communis) are not native plants (but they have naturalized in many places in the South), Mr. Smarty Plants can't advise on this. So looking at the ASPCA page for castor beans shows that the seeds are very toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Here's what the ASPCA information says about castor beans ... Beans are very toxic: oral irritation, burning of mouth and throat, increase in thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, convulsions. Access to ornamental plants or pruned foliage most common in poisonings. Ricin is a highly toxic component that inhibits protein synthesis; ingestion of as little as one ounce of seeds can be lethal. Signs typically develop 12 to 48 hours after ingestion, and include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, weakness, colic, trembling, sweating, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, progressive central nervous system depression, and fever. As syndrome progresses, bloody diarrhea may occur, and convulsions and coma can precede death.
In addition, the Veterinary Medicine Library indicates that all parts of the castor bean are toxic, but the seeds are the worst.
The Veterinary Medicine Library web page on castor beans says, "All parts of the plants are toxic, but most dangerous are the seeds. The most susceptible animal species include cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, fowl, rabbits and other small animals. Seeds ingested at 0.2% of body weight have caused toxicosis in cattle and 0.01% of body weight was toxic to horses."
.
More Non-Natives Questions
Texas frogfruit vs. non-native St. Augustine grass
October 12, 2008 - Can Texas frogfruit resist invasion by St. Augustine grass, or will I need to create a barrier?
view the full question and answer
What about Asian Jasmine and scrub oaks?
September 01, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have several clusters of native scrub oaks in my yard. I planted Asian jasmine under them many years ago. The trees look fine, but an arborist has told me that the Asian ...
view the full question and answer
Replacing non-native St. Augustine with native grasses in Rockport TX
February 18, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a few questions for you. I live in Rockport and am in the process of revamping my yard to native species. I currently have San Augustine, weed infested grass. I want to scrap...
view the full question and answer
Care of non-native potato tree (Solanum macranthum or Lycianthes rantonnetii)
June 20, 2009 - I live in Phoenix. I bought what was called a potato tree. Purple flowers with blooms quite often. It seemed a little puny and twiggy so I fed it Miracle Grow. It is now gorgeous with lovely leave...
view the full question and answer
Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi
May 20, 2012 - I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |