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PLEASE NOTE:
"Poisonous" does not mean deadly. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. The dose, as always, determines if a plant is safe source of nutrients or a toxic hazard.

Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions

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BRIEF: Is the plant in my backyard poisonous?


QUESTION:
As the mother of a young baby, I am concerned about her access to poisonous plants. I have a blue morning glory in my back yard and believe through my research that the scientific name of this plant is either the Convovulvus or the Ipompea. I did not see either of these listed on your site. Does that mean that it is not poisonous and safe to have in my yard?

ANSWER:

The seeds from some members of the impomea (morning glories, sweet potatoes, etc.) species have LSD-like compounds in them that can cause unpleasantness and severe problems at high doses. Some species of convovulus were used by indians as fish poisons. But most ornamental plants have some potential toxins and you can't raise a kid on dirt. Best to keep an eye on them and keep their intake of plants, (and sand, worms, sticks, beetles, etc.) to a minimum, I think.