Poisonous plants are taboo in the design plan for the family garden. Children and pets should not be tempted to eat toxic parts of plants. Have you considered one of the magnificent maple species for planting in the bed or on the balcony? Then find out what the toxic content is here.
Are maple trees poisonous?
Maple trees are harmless to humans, but sycamore and ash maple contain toxic substances for horses and donkeys. Other species such as Norway maple, field maple and slot maple are not poisonous to animals. The highest concentration of poison is in seeds and sprouts.
Maple – beautiful and harmless in the family garden
Maple is one of the first trees that children can call by name. It is the hand-shaped leaves, the unique autumn color and the winged fruits that make a maple tree distinctive. For generations, young and old have had great fun with the seeds, which sail through the air like little helicopters and can be placed on their noses as pince-nez.
Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and field maple (Acer campestre) are widespread in the wild. The pure species gave rise to decorative varieties that look impressive in the garden, such as the popular globe maple Globosum or the dramatic blood maple Crimson King. There is no sign of a poisonous danger for children or adults here.
These maples are proven to be poisonous to animals
In 2012, the first suspicion arose in the USA that maples contained a dangerous poison for animals. Scientists at the University of Minnesota discovered that the native ash maple is the cause of a deadly disease that has already killed countless horses and donkeys. In 2015, a German research group confirmed the suspicion that the deadly poison was also contained in sycamore maple.
The scientists at the Dutch Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht wanted to know exactly. The results confirmed the findings regarding sycamore and ash maple, but gave the all-clear for other maple species. The current state of knowledge can be summarized as follows:
- Sycamore maple and ash maple: poisonous to horses and donkeys, possibly other animal species
- Highest concentration of poison in seeds and sprouts
- Norway maple, field maple, slot maple and other species: not poisonous
