Are lilac flowers poisonous?

The uncertainty of many gardening enthusiasts often stems from the fact that there are various garden shrubs that are not related in their system, but colloquially as lilac are designated.

Buddleia and alpine lavender are poisonous

A "fake" lilac species is the buddleia, also called butterfly lilac (botanical: Buddleja davidii), because these shrubs attract many butterflies to the home garden.

The Buddleja is a figwort. It is widespread in China. The wood is particularly at home in tropical and subtropical areas. As an ornamental shrub, summer lilac is also very popular in Europe - there are numerous varieties and varieties.

All parts of the buddleia plant are poisonous, especially the leaves and seeds. They cause nausea and vomiting. However, the poison of the plant is not life threatening. Charcoal powder is recommended as a first aid measure.

The striped daphne, also known as alpine lavender, is really dangerous. It reaches a size of 50 to 100 centimeters. In Germany, this plant occurs mainly in southern Bavaria.

Daphne blooms from February to April. The flowers appear before the leaves shoot. They give off a strong lilac-like scent. In contrast to the common lilac, the plant belongs to the mallow family.

Due to the contained daphnetoxin, all parts of the shrub are very poisonous. Even through skin contact, the poison causes inflammation and blisters on the skin. The damage can be so severe that the tissue dies (necrosis).

The highest concentration of poison is in the red ones Berry. As little as ten berries can be fatal for children. The stomach, central nervous system, intestines and kidneys are damaged. Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea and vomiting, headaches and symptoms of paralysis.

First aid measure for poisoning: Make the affected person vomit. The stomach must be emptied as quickly as possible. Call the ambulance or take the victim to the hospital. The daphne is also dangerous for pets.

Black elder - popularly called lilac

Especially in northern Germany, the black one elder also known as lilac. It belongs to the musk herb family and grows to a height of eleven meters. From May to June it bears flat panicles with many individual flowers that are white to yellowish in color. They give off a distinctive, unmistakable fragrance.

The black berries ripen from August to September. They are high in vitamin C and potassium. When cooked or fermented, elderberries are edible and very healthy. Elderberry juice and elderberries are used as remedies for many purposes.

But be careful: the leaves and bark as well as the unripe berries and seeds contain the substance sambunigrin. The consumption of these parts of the plant can lead to nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea or vomiting.

Syringa - the common lilac

The common lilac is part of the botanical family of the olive trees. It grows up to six meters high and delights the gardener in April and May with wonderfully fragrant panicles of flowers. About 20 types of the popular ornamental shrub are cultivated in the flower colors blue, purple, white and pink.

In September, woody capsules ripen - the fruits of the lilac. The common lilac is only slightly poisonous. You would have to consume large quantities of the leaves, flowers and branches for symptoms of poisoning to occur.

Syringa is used as a medicinal herb against fever and indigestion. The lilac blossoms have a slightly sweet taste and are not poisonous. You can make a tasty syrup from the flowers.

Lilac flowers - a recipe for syrup

You need 3 liters of water, 2 kg of sugar, 15 lilac umbels of the common lilac, 3 untreated lemons in slices and possibly some citric acid. In the first step you boil the water with the sugar. Pluck the lilac flowers from the umbels. Put everything in a large bowl.

Put the mixture in a cool place. After five days, pour the mixture through a fine sieve and pour the syrup into clean bottles. The citric acid makes the syrup durable. If you use the syrup quickly, it is not necessary.