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Tulips, Tulipa
Colourful, graceful and timelessly elegant: Tulips are decorative heralds of spring that inspire flower lovers all over the world. The magnificent plants, which originally come from southern Europe and Asia, adorn gardens, balconies or terraces. However, one question causes uncertainty: are tulips poisonous? After all, parents and pet owners in particular are often warned about this type of flower. We have summarized the most important information about the tulip and tell you whether this garden beauty poses a serious risk.
toxicity
The tulip - poisonous in all parts of the plant
Tulips are not only pretty to look at, but poisonous in every part. Bulbs, stalks and petals contain harmful tuliposides that cause both skin irritation and acute symptoms of poisoning. Prolonged skin contact with tulip blossoms or other parts of the plant can cause eczematous changes, itching and redness. In individual cases, painful swellings or small skin tears can even occur. Tip: Always use gardening gloves when planting tulip bulbs. After direct skin contact, you should wash the affected areas thoroughly with water.
risk of confusion
Caution, risk of confusion: Tulip bulbs or table onions?
Tulip bulbs, which have a particularly high concentration of poison, look very similar to our onions. If they are accidentally consumed by children or adults, the following symptoms are to be feared.
- increased salivation
- stomach pain
- Vomit
- shock
- apathy
- drop in body temperature
plant parts
In rare cases, accidental swallowing of the tulip bulb can even result in life-threatening circulatory or respiratory arrest. Although tulip leaves are less toxic than tulip bulbs, they can cause severe stomach and intestinal problems in children, the elderly or pets. For this reason, tulip blossoms should never be used as table decorations or kept in the kitchen. You don't want to do without colorful flower arrangements on your dining table? Then you can safely choose edible flowers such as roses, violets or daisies, which are pleasing to the eye and guaranteed not to contain any toxic substances.
blossom
Tulip flowers - toxicity to dogs, cats and rodents
The flowers, stem and bulb of a tulip are not only inedible for humans, but also for our pets. Since tulips release their toxins into the flower water, even drinking them from coasters or vases can trigger acute stomach problems. Pets that have extensively nibbled on tulip flowers show typical signs of poisoning such as the following.
- salivation
- nausea
- diarrhea
- Vomit
- refusal of food
Rodents such as rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters, which prefer to eat succulent plants, are particularly at risk of poisoning. But dogs and cats must also be kept away from the tulip and its flowers.
prevention
Targeted prevention protects against health problems
If you are planting or pruning tulips in your garden, you should only do so with proper protective equipment. Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing to avoid unwanted skin contact. Do you have small children who like to pick colorful flowers? Or do you have pets that roam freely in the garden? Then you should better not take any risks and completely avoid poisonous plants. We can assure you that there are numerous non-toxic alternatives that will transform your garden or patio into a thriving oasis. Tip: Rose, lilac, jasmine and hydrangea are not only an enrichment for every green space, but also absolutely harmless for humans and animals. Are you looking for other non-toxic flowering plants for your home? Garden centers or wholesale flower markets have a huge selection for plant lovers all year round.
First aid
First aid for poisoning
Skin redness and irritation caused by direct contact with the tulip usually heal without treatment. If your children or pets nibbled on a tulip leaf when they were not watching and only swallowed a tiny bit, you can give them plenty of water to drink or give them activated charcoal to neutralize the pollutants. However, if there is a suspicion that larger quantities have been ingested, a doctor or veterinarian must be contacted immediately. The medically trained specialist staff will decide on a case-by-case basis which treatment steps are to be initiated.
Conclusion: Tulips are poisonous to humans and animals
Tulip toxicity is undeniable and can pose a serious health threat. Even a single skin contact with the tulip bulb or the tulip leaves can cause painful irritation. The unintentional consumption of these parts of the plant triggers acute symptoms of poisoning and usually requires medical treatment. For this reason, always approach the colorful spring flowers with due caution. Families with small children or pet owners, on the other hand, should avoid tulips completely and preferably decorate their home with non-toxic flowers.
Sources:
http://www.gizbonn.de/233.0.html
http://www.botanikus.de/gift/tulpe.html
https://www.garten-treffpunkt.de/lexikon/pflanzengifte.aspx
http://www.alte-sonnen-apotheke.de/tipps-fuer-haus-und-garten/ungiftige-gartenpflanzen.html