The iris, also known as the iris, is valued by many gardeners as a relatively easy-care flowering plant in the garden. Although it does not bear any tempting fruit, its toxicity still poses a certain potential danger to children and animals.
Is the iris poisonous to humans and animals?
The iris is poisonous to humans and animals. Eating leaves, flowers, or roots can cause vomiting, burning in the throat, and bloody diarrhea. Children and animals should therefore be kept away from this plant.
Medicinal uses of different types of irises
In medicine in earlier centuries, certain parts of the iris were previously used for the following purposes:
- as a wound healer
- for pain relief in teething children
- as an expectorant
Specialists still process the root rhizomes of certain types of irises into natural emetics and throat drops. However, you should not do this on your own without specialist knowledge, as incorrect dosage can lead to serious symptoms of poisoning.
Caution: poisonousness of the iris
If leaves, flowers or roots of the iris are consumed or taken in the form of processed products, vomiting, burning in the throat or even bloody diarrhea can occur. In addition, the leaves and roots are also poisonous to horses, rabbits and other domestic animals. You should not let children play unsupervised next to irises.
Tips & Tricks
If you cut food for your pets and dry it as hay, be sure to remove any iris leaves. Since the poison remains in the leaves even when they are dried, it can also lead to poisoning if fed in dried form.