The lucky chestnut is a popular ornamental plant for the home - because of its enormous ease of care and the beautiful appearance. But what about the compatibility of the Pachira aquatica? Is it poisonous to humans and animals or not? The article gets to the bottom of this question in detail.
lucky chestnut
The long, five-fingered leaves of the lucky chestnut, which with a little imagination look like deep green hands, are particularly popular. The low maintenance effort also inspires many plant lovers to get a Pachira aquatica. If only it weren't for the uncertainty as to whether the plant is poisonous. How does direct contact affect people and pets? What needs to be considered? The plant expert answers all important questions about the toxicity of the noble lucky chestnut.
toxicity
Is the lucky chestnut poisonous?
No, the lucky chestnut is not poisonous. Strictly speaking, it does not pose any health risk to humans or animals. All scientific studies carried out so far have come to the conclusion that the popular plant does not contain any dangerous toxins. So you can easily bring one or the other Pachira aquatica into your home. This also applies to plant lovers who have children and/or keep pets. Nevertheless, with regard to the "groups" mentioned, some details must be taken into account - for the benefit of all those involved.
Summary:
- Lucky chestnut (Pachira aquatica) not poisonous per se
- However, there are a few things to keep in mind with children/pets
toddlers
Peculiarities related to young children
In principle, it is not a problem to beautify a household with small children with fortune chestnuts. Whether through skin contact (e.g. touching the plant with your hands) or chewing individual parts (e.g. the leaves or bark): Pachira aquatica is generally considered non-toxic.
Tip: Of course, as with any other ornamental plant, there are various plant saps in the trunk of the noble tree, which are minimally toxic. In this context, minimally toxic means that if a larger quantity is consumed, slight symptoms of poisoning can occur.
But: A child would have to suck the trunks of several lucky chestnuts completely to suffer serious damage. That's unrealistic. Hardly anyone has four or more of these trees at home - apart from the fact that probably no child feels like sucking out one trunk after the next. For the reasons described, there is no need to bother finding a child-safe place for the plant(s).
Summary:
- minimally toxic saps in the trunk of the money chestnut
- Child would have to suck out entire trunks of several plants
- no child-safe location required for the trees
pets
Special features for cats, dogs, rodents and birds
Pet owners often ask whether the lucky chestnut is poisonous to cats or dogs. Even owners of rodents and birds are often unsure about this. The reassuring news for all animal lovers: The Pachira aquatica is not poisonous to any species. As proof of this, a real example from practice should be mentioned. A rabbit's mistress reported the following:
"About four minutes ago, Leo ate a piece of a lucky chestnut about two inches across. While cleaning the cage, I put the scratching post aside, near the plant. Leo jumped onto the scratching post, stretched out very long and bit off a piece. I watched him closely, both in the hours after the mishap and in the days that followed. He was behaving normally.”
Reading the report in this way, it quickly becomes clear that it is not so much the animals that are in danger as the plants when both parties meet. Above all, cat claws and strong dog teeth as well as bird beaks can sometimes severely injure the trunk.
Tip: Injured trunks or shoots attract pathogens and pests. These are able to kill the plant. That's why it's important to keep lucky chestnuts away from cats, dogs, and birds.
Summary:
- Money tree completely non-toxic for pets
- rather plants endangered by mammals and birds
- Store Pachira aquatica away from animals
reptiles
Peculiarities regarding reptiles
Some animal and plant lovers are also worried about bringing reptiles together with a Pachira aquatica. The reason for this is that real plants are preferred in the terrariums. Lucky chestnuts are ideal for climbing, which is why many owners of chameleons and other reptiles do not want to miss out on the natural beauty.
Tip: It is no problem to place a lucky chestnut in the terrarium. The animals use the indoor tree as an adventure playground, but cannot be poisoned in the process.
Summary:
- Money chestnut not poisonous for reptiles
- Plant can be placed in the terrarium
- great climbing frame for chameleons and co.
edibility
Parts theoretically even edible
In the countries of origin, fortune chestnuts or parts thereof are even eaten. In addition to the deep green leaves, trees that grow in the wild also produce wonderful flowers in yellow-green or cream-colored tones as well as brown, oval and 30 centimeter long fruits. These three elements - i.e. leaves, flowers and fruit - are edible.
If desired, young leaves can be harvested from indoor plants and eaten raw or cooked. A few keepers are lucky enough to get fruit and seeds when cultivating at home. The latter are also edible and taste particularly good when roasted. The aroma is strongly reminiscent of peanuts. Interesting: Unripe fruits and the bark of the Pachira aquatica are used in Guatemala as a remedy for liver problems.
Summary:
- At home, leaves, blossoms and fruits serve as food
- Seeds taste like peanuts (roasted especially delicious)
- Eat young leaves from the indoor tree (raw or cooked)
- Fruit and bark in Guatemala as a remedy for the liver
For fast readers
Tips for speed readers
- Lucky chestnut (Pachira aquatica) is considered non-toxic
- only strains with minimally toxic saps
- slight poisoning only in extremely large amounts
- plants are more likely to be endangered by animals than vice versa
- Lucky chestnut may go into the terrarium (for climbing)
- Leaves, flowers and fruits including seeds are edible