The rumor persists that the gerbera is poisonous. However, that does not correspond to the facts. Neither the flower nor the stem of the tropical plant contain toxins that could be dangerous to humans or animals.
Is the gerbera plant poisonous?
Is the gerbera poisonous? No, the gerbera plant is not poisonous and poses no danger to people or animals. Neither the flower nor the stem contain toxins. You can therefore use the gerbera as a houseplant or cut flower without hesitation.
The delicate hairiness of the gerbera
The long stems of the Gerbera are covered with many small hairs in some varieties. They almost look like fluff and feel good in the hand. Maybe that's why the plant is so popular with small children, cats and small animals.
The many, sometimes very strong colors also have a strong attraction on children's hands and bird beaks.
That's probably why so many parents and animal lovers believe that the houseplant gerbera is poisonous, even though none of the parts of the plant contain toxins. Even if a child puts leaves or flowers in their mouth, there is no risk of poisoning.
Safe use as a houseplant
The gerbera is therefore unbeatable as a houseplant or cut flower if you value non-toxic flowers.
However, you should avoid touching the stems too often. If small children's hands stroke the gerbera stems too often and too hard, the fine hairs break and the stem breaks.
So that the flowers remain undamaged, it is better to keep cats, rodents and, above all, birds away. Pointed bird beaks cause holey petals, which make the plant unsightly. The sensitive gerbera does not forgive damage and, in the worst case, will die.
Tips & Tricks
If there are small children or animals in the house, you should ensure that houseplants are placed as out of reach as possible. Although gerbera itself is not poisonous, there is a risk that the little ones or animals will knock over the pots and thereby injure themselves.
