I've got some foxgloves popping up around my house, and while they're super pretty, I'm a bit concerned. We've always had them along the border of our one-acre property, but now we're expanding their presence. No one in my household plans to eat them, so that's good, but I have allergies and hay fever. Should I be worried about the pollen affecting me? And could that pollen somehow end up on my edible plants, making them toxic? Just looking for some reassurance here!
3 Answers
You shouldn’t worry too much, everything will be fine! Just keep an eye on your kids and pets around the flowers, and you’re all set!
Good news! Foxgloves are insect-pollinated, so their pollen is heavy and mostly stays put, which means it won’t be floating around causing issues. Most allergy troubles come from wind-pollinated plants, not showy flowers like foxgloves. Just don’t eat them, and you should be all good!
Honestly, as long as everyone in the house knows not to munch on the foxgloves, you should be fine. The bigger worry would be if you have pets that like to chew on plants. As for little kids, if you explain that certain plants can make them sick, I think they’ll avoid eating them. I grow some edible flowers myself, but I keep the inedible ones separate from my food garden to be safe.
Exactly! Plus, you’d really have to consume the plant to get sick from it. Just wash your hands after handling them to avoid any skin irritation.