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Annuals/Surtido de Verbena

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Expert: - 5/27/2007


Question
I have a small child and was wondering if this plant is poisonous because I have one in my front yard.

Answer
Tammy,
The name you sent means "Spurt of Verbena" or "Spurted Verbena" - it is not a common name for any verbena that I'm aware of.  In any case, my sources show that Verbena is poisonous if eaten in quanity.  See this website: http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/plantsthatpoison.htm

Be sure it is a verbena, and of course, you don't want a child eating ANY plants that you are not sure about.  The truth is, however, that MANY plants we commonly have in our landscapes are poisonous if enough of them are eaten, so I leave it to you as to what you want to do about this one.

If you child eats any plants from your landscape call your local Poison Control number immediately.

all the best,
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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