I'm really fascinated by the concept of a poison garden. You know, the idea of growing beautiful but toxic plants is so intriguing! Think Alnwick Gardens vibe. I'm curious about the legal aspects of this—like I know foxglove is fine to grow, but what about other toxic and potentially drug-related plants, like opium poppies or deliriants? I'd also love to include some carnivorous plants in the mix. Does anyone have experiences or insights on the regulations surrounding this? Do I need to inform anyone that I'm growing these plants? My main worry is someone unknowingly picking something harmful from my garden.
3 Answers
You should check out the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981's Schedule 9. It has a list of plants you can’t grow or let spread in the UK. Most plants, believe it or not, have some level of toxicity, even common ones like daffodils and tulips. It's kind of wild how many decorative plants have evolved defenses with poisons! If you decide to grow toxic plants, maybe just put up some warning signs to keep everyone informed.
Right? Even rowan trees are deceiving. Their raw berries are poisonous but cooked are fine. Nature is wild like that!
If you want a comprehensive guide on toxic plants, check out "Plants That Kill: A Natural History of the World's Most Poisonous Plants." It's an interesting read, though it gets a bit technical about plant chemistry. You'll definitely be surprised how many poisonous plants are common and legally available!
I gifted my mom a cool book called "Wicked Plants" about deadly plants. It's fascinating!
Liability could be a concern if someone gets hurt in your garden. As long as you keep it secure and maybe have a sign or two, you should be good. Just avoid growing invasive species—those have strict laws against them. Cannabis is definitely off-limits, but opium poppies are okay as long as you don’t harvest the sap!
That’s interesting! Does liability come from just having the plants or more what people might do with them?
For sure! It's a good idea to teach kids about not eating random plants they find. That's how accidents happen!