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Avatar for annasmisc
Aug 25, 2015 12:28 AM CST
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I made a potted garden for my granddaughter's preschool with the following plants: sempervivum jovibarba allonii, cuphea (la Chiquita), and muehlenbeckia complexa (angel vine). Her teacher needs to know if any of these plants might be toxic. Can you help us out, please?

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Aug 25, 2015 5:26 AM CST
Name: Christine
NY zone 5a
Deer Charter ATP Member Region: United States of America Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tropicals Region: New York
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I'm not sure if any of them are toxic, Welcome! you have come to a good place to find out. I just had to say what a beautiful job you did on the potted garden, I love it Thumbs up
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Aug 25, 2015 7:41 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Hi annasmisc, Welcome! to All Things Plants from me too!

Your dish garden is really beautiful, great job!

There are a few Jovibarba allionii listed in the database but I don't see any information regarding toxcicity:
http://garden.org/plants/searc...
I know the milky sap in many succulents can cause skin irritation in some individuals. I googled and found the following that states some members of the plant genus Sempervivum do contain toxic alkaloids: https://books.google.com/books... And, this states that leaves have toxic qualities: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/pl...

We have a database entry for Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) although the cultivar 'La Chiquita' is not yet listed and there is no information regarding toxicity for this plant either. When googling I found this list http://www.calpoison.org/hcp/K... and Cuphea hyssopifolia is in the Non-toxic area but I have no idea who compiled this list so I'm not sure I'd trust it.

Here's the database listing for Maidenhair Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) and again, no information regarding toxicity. It is also on that above list under the Non-Toxic category but again, I would not trust it as fact.

It's always wise to be extremely vigilant with young children and pets around plants, so kudos to you and your daughters teacher for questioning the issues of possibly toxicity. Maybe she could place the dish garden atop a file cabinet or high shelf out of reach of the preschoolers and just use it for show and tell?

Hopefully an ATP member who grows these plants will come along and be able to offer more advice.

Again, beautiful job on that creation! Thumbs up

Lin
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


Avatar for Chillybean
Aug 25, 2015 8:43 AM CST
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
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Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Welcome to All Things Plants. That is beautiful, but I cannot help. Even though I do not try killing house plants, it happens.
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Aug 25, 2015 9:58 AM CST
Plants Admin Emeritus
Name: Evan
Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member Aroids Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Tropicals Vermiculture
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Regarding @plantladylin's link to calpoison.org, they appear to be a reliable source of information. California Poison Control System about page: http://www.calpoison.org/about...
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Aug 25, 2015 11:14 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Thanks Evan!
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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