Choosing plants and those you may wish to avoid

[quark1]

I found this website when looking for info about a recent purchase which may make me public enemy numero uno in my local area for a short period of time.

I bought the Dragon Arum in a bundle of black coloured bulbs - and I understand that it attracts clouds of blow flies for all the reasons of 'odour' production that carrion and/or excrement emits in order to get pollinated! I'll have to see how bad it gets if I'm successful with it and perhaps consider deflowering offending specimens!

Anyway check out this website - it gives lots of info about those unusual plants and even ones like tea which does contain caffeine and tannin - both technically poisons!

THE POISON GARDEN website

Would presume visits to this quirky garden may be possible.

[SarzWix]

That website just lost me about 20 minutes...! Have bookmarked it

The Poison Garden at Alnwick is open to the public, although that chappie doesn't work there now.

[quark1]

Don't know whether to apologise or feel satisfied that I've diverted you from your duties for 20mins!

[thepoisongarden]

Thanks for the mention.

The dragon arum only smells when the plant is ready for pollination. Once that has been done it 'switches off' the smell.

Back when I was still working at the Alnwick Garden I was on duty one year on the day the plant was ready. The smell in the morning was pretty awful everytime I stopped my tour group near the Dracunculus vulgaris but, by the afternoon, the smell had gone.

Actually, it was quite fun watching people's noses start to twitch and then seeing them casting suspicious glances at the people close to them. I saw a few people whisper something to a companion and, I suspect, it was along the lines of 'Was that you?'

[quark1]

Welcome to the Vine 'poison' - are you the 'chappie' Sarz refers to?

I shall be most interested to read your contribs going forward - and they don't ALL have to be TOXIC!

We'll accept any 'non-homicidal' tips and hints on other parts of the growing kingdom. Enjoy this great community of growing fans.