I wear glasses due to this plant. You are not the first to make this statement, and not the last

sorry you got injured and thanks for reminding us all how dangerous that sap is.

I'm sure I'm not. Just trying to spread the word in the event someone like me did not know about it. That's what educators do.

Thank you, Sans!

Yikes, Im glad you are okay. I agree euphorbia's should be labeled as such, it baffles me that they aren't!

I am not in favour of labeling houseplants or ornamental plants as toxic. If you do that, where do you draw the line? Half the plants you buy are identified incorrectly or not at all, anyway.

I was poisoned by a wild Euphorbia once, was in bed for three days, one eye nearly swollen shut, and rashes over a good deal of my body. But I should have known better. Do the research on the plant you are buying or dealing with beforehand.

I was clearing some brush for several days on the property where I live last fall. Pulling out overgrown greenery, like bittersweet vine, which had become invasive. Little did I know I was pulling out poison ivy as well. I had severe rashes for over a month.

Label soda as toxic. Label fatty foods as toxic. Label guns and knives as deadly. But leave plants alone. Just take the time to do your homework.

Christopher

Wow. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. I've read horrifying stories about these plants. I have a small one, and I did get sap on my finger once while repotting it, luckily nothing happened. I like to keep it out of reach, along with my Sago Palm.

Yup, safety glasses and nitrile gloves if I ever decide to cut mine!

Sorry to hear and wishing you a speedy recovery.

Chris, I don't disagree. I was just commenting on the irony of labeling buildings, and the beer I'm drinking right now, as toxic or dangerous, while completely ignoring an obvious common hazard. I drink whole milk and think guns and knives are tools, not deadly materials. Do your homework is great advice. Warnings are for idiots who can't read anyway ;-)

But reading about the hazards of Euphorbia sap here on this forum is education, and talking about it doesn't hurt anybody.

Brad, if the beer you are drinking now is toxic, better switch brands. I am a big IPA fan, myself.

I'm a hop addict too, Chris. :-)

Brad

Chris sorry to hear about your plant poisoning experience, Im sure you now handle those plants with extra protection.

I definitely believe plants with the potential for blindness, serious toxicity etc should be labeled- if not for people growing them, its for the companions living with them (small children, pets, etc). Most people who pick up plants in stores are oblivious, but to you and I who have an interest in plants and some basic knowledge know what to do. For the average consumer buying a plant and bringing it back home to an environment with small kids/pets, there should be some basic warning label/sign.

There's another reason to be careful of E. turicalli in my area: it's really a tree, and will grow to tree size faster than you would think if planted in the ground.

If you think it is difficult to handle a small potted version, consider how to manage it when it is 20' tall. I removed mine at 10', but I knew to be very, very careful. At larger sizes the fumes from the sap can be a lung irritant, even if you don't actually touch the plant.

hoov, jeez. I had no idea. I thought it was a small bush in habitat, at most.

Pagan

Totally agree, Minty Lemonade! The pencil plants I have are all at least 3 ft tall and placed in large pots on my outdoor patio. Having had them for close to 10 years and NEVER had an experience such as this was a great "eye opener"( no pun intended) It's easy to look in retrospect and say I should have read more before purchasing them. But in reality, all of them were grown from clippings which I myself had planted from a family member's plant WITH no problems. I did not buy them from a store! Thank you all for your kind and other unfavorable remarks. As stated earlier, I am merely trying to educate others of the danger! Warning labels were NEVER even a fleeting thought! Great idea for future consumers.

Thanks fakechuchi. I knew they grew to be very large, but have never seen one like this. Wow! THANKS for sharing!

I live in zone 9.

Here's some trees in California

I agree about the labeling, if you ever see a sago palm they have tags plastered all over them about pet toxicity, or at least here they do. Why not do the same with Euphorbia. Though I also think if you label them then where do you stop labeling?

I just checked the the little black pot that mine was originally planted in and it does have a warning on it, it says "White sap is irritating and can burn skin. Wash well with soap and water immediately." I didn't notice that at first, but I already knew the plant was toxic.

I don't know, Nick. I think we should label everything.

P.S. You gotta admit though, those trees look awesome. That one guy had the right idea---plant thick, killer agaves around them.

This may sound strange to you guys but, I don't seem to be affected by the Euphorbia sap. That is to say ..i've suffered no allergic reactions from it. I've propagated and planted many different types and have gotten the sap all over my hands and arms too.

However, i have never gotten it into my eyes or anything like that, nor would i want to try that out : )

I have known a few people over the years that had a reaction like Chris' though and it was quite an unpleasant experience for them to say the least. Always better to err on the side of caution i say.

That being said, I don't feel these plants should be banned. education is key. we've killed off enough species with fear, ignorance, etc., we should be smarter than the plants and animals and learn how to co-habitate not eradicate.

I have purchased Oleander many times… never seen a 'warning' on that plant… but if any plant should have one, shouldn't it be that one? It is probably one of the top 3-5 toxic plants in the world (far more toxic than any Euphorbia) AND it has very irritating sap (nearly as bad as your typical Euphorbia) as well… no to mention toxic fumes if burnt (every tried to burn a Euphorbia?). And if we start putting toxic plant signs on Euphorbias, what about all the other tens of thousands of toxic plants there are? Should there be warnings on cacti that they have spines and could poke your eye out? Should there be warnings on trees that they can topple over in the wind and crush you and your house? How about strawberry plants because some people have a fatal reaction to eating them? Apples are toxic if you eat enough of the seeds. Apricots can be a choking hazard for children, as well as being toxic. I read about a guy who fell into an agave recently and had to be rescued because he could not extract himself from the plant (ended up in the hospital)… maybe he should have read the warnings about nature being dangerous before he decided to hike out into the Arizona countryside.

I have grown many hundreds of species of Euphorbias (thousands of plants over all) and yes, I get sap in my eye now and then, and on my lips (burns for days) but I know that when I buy a plant I should find out some more about it in case it turns out there is some hazard I am not aware of… Got plumeria sap on my skin many times and it burns like hell, too- never seen a warning about that plant, and I see it for sale all the time… I have heard of people cutting Plumeria branches above their heads and getting the sap in their eye (VERY similar to Euphorbia sap) and have had to go to the emergency clinic. And even figs have toxic, irritating sap that could send you there, too, if you got it in your eye. I have hurt myself with MANY plants over the years, hundreds of times I would guess… though Euphorbias are way down on the list (have not had to go to the hospital yet because of them, but have for about a half dozen other plants). Not sure where the warnings would stop… just about all plants need them if there are those that are going to hurt themselves no matter what… and maybe every thing you buy will have a warning on it-'caution, pencils can poke your eye out if you sharpen them and shove them towards you face!'… we have to be responsible human beings and find out ourselves about things we get. Buyer beware!

I hope they ban airplanes first. I mean, they could fall out of the sky and if you're nearby..!

More dangerous than any plant i've known. I won't even mention the fallout and what we breathe in from the jet fuel.