on the edibility of columbine flowers

I’ve been reading up on permaculture and exploring the edibility of common ornamental plants. Several books I’ve looked at suggest that columbine flowers (Aquilegia canadensis and Aquilegia vulgaris, specifically) are edible. I have my doubts, since columbine is in the family Ranunculaceae, which I would generally consider poisonous. What do you think?

I think you are right to question your sources. Although some species of Aquilegia have ethnobotanical uses as food, you should still proceed with caution. I found information about edible and medicinal uses of Aquilegia formosa. Daniel Moerman’s Native American Food Plants, Timber Press, 2010, mentions that the Miwok boiled and ate the early spring greens, and that children of the Hanaksiala tribe sucked nectar from the flowers. In her book Ethnobotany of Western Washington (University of Washington, 1979), Erna Gunther mentions medicinal and edible uses of this species of columbine. The Quileute tribe used the sap to aid in healing wounds, and Chehalis children sucked “honey out of the flowers.” However, The North American Guide to Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms by Nancy Turner and Patrick von Aderkas (Timber Press, 2009) lists Aquilegia species as toxic:
“Most [members of the Ranunculaceae] contain irritant protoanemonins; columbines contain cyanogenic glycosides.”

Columbine is included in University of Vermont Extension’s list of “Potentially Harmful Perennials.” St. Olaf College’s page on wild columbine points out a common confusion between the blossoms of honeysuckle and columbine:
“Young children often mistake Columbine for Honeysuckle, pulling off the flowers and biting the spurs in search of nectar. Though no official records of toxicity have been reported for Columbine, it belongs to a family which contains other toxic species. Caution is advised.”

The Plants for a Future database of edible and medicinal plants lists a number of species of columbine. Here is their page on Aquilegia canadensis. I don’t find myself convinced by the statement that “the flowers are probably perfectly safe to eat.” The entry for Aquilegia vulgaris says that the flowers are “rich in nectar, they are sweet and delightful, they make a very attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden. The flowers are also used as a tea substitute.” It is worth looking at the sources cited at the end of this entry, to decide if you feel they are trustworthy. To summarize, when in doubt, don’t eat the columbines (or any other plant whose edibility is debatable)!

on growing and harvesting Nicotiana sylvestris

Can I grow flowering tobacco varieties, such as Nicotiana sylvestris, and harvest the leaves for smoking?

Nicotiana species are in the Family Solanaceae. Nicotiana sylvestris is a parent of cultivated tobacco, N. tabacum. You can surmise that the cultivated tobacco plant was bred for characteristics that the ornamental plants were not—that is, use of the leaves for smoking without (immediate, anyway!) dire toxic consequences. All Nicotiana species have toxic properties, but levels of those substances may vary from species to species, so it would be unwise to assume that leaves from the other varieties are ‘safe’ to smoke. For example Nicotiana glauca, a weedy species also called tree tobacco, does not contain nicotine but instead anabasine, which is extremely toxic to humans and animals, according to this weed report from Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States.

According to The North American Guide to Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms (Nancy J. Turner and Patrick von Aderkas, Timber Press 2009), “all tobaccos should be considered poisonous to consume (smoking brings its own risks); some have caused fatalities. […] Poisoning through intentional or accidental misuse of nicotine and products containing it is a relatively common occurrence. Related species may contain other toxic alkaloids, chemically similar to nicotine.” For this reason, we suggest that you enjoy Nicotiana sylvestris, N. alata, and other ornamental species for their flowers only. Also avoid growing Nicotiana near plants like tomatoes and others in the Solanaceae which are susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus (in fact, don’t touch those plants after handling Nicotiana, or smoking tobacco products).

the poisonous western yew

Is our native yew tree poisonous?

Taxus brevifolia, Pacific or Western yew, is native here. The Sunset Western Garden Book (2001, p.628) says that Taxus fruit, seeds, and foliage are poisonous if ingested.

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon (Lone Pine, 2004) says that “Western yew seeds are poisonous and humans should avoid the fleshy ‘berries,’ although a wide variety of birds consume them and disperse the seeds. The foliage is poisonous to horses and cattle.”

The Plants for a Future database has more information at this link.

Growing culture for cardboard palms

I am interested in finding out if someone there can tell me the
proper culture for Zamia furfuracea. I just acquired one that had
been potted up as a bonsai and put on sale at a local grocery store. I think
they may not have known or cared what it was. This is a plant I
grew outdoors when I lived in California. I’m wondering what to do
with it in Vancouver, WA. The options are greenhouse, patio pot,
indoors, outdoors.

I found general cultural information from Florida State University
Cooperative Extension. This is a zone 9b-11 plant, and your area is probably about zone 8, so I think you would want to grow this with some protection.

University of British Columbia Botanical Garden’s discussion forum describes this as an indoor plant. This article in the journal of University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is about a similar plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, often confused with Zamia
furfuracea.

Richard Langer’s book, Grow It Indoors (Stackpole Books, 1995) says to
grow this “handy table-sized cycad” in temperate partial sun with humusy
soil that is kept constantly moist.

Another thing to keep in mind if you are growing this plant around pets
or small children is its toxicity. The ASPCA lists Zamia species (cardboard palm) as toxic. Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital lists Zamia as toxic to dogs and people.

Plants poisonous to pets

Is a holly tree toxic to animals (dogs/cats)?

The ASPCA website on plants which are toxic to animals lists holly (Ilex spp.), as does the Humane Society website.

According to Plant Alert, A Garden Guide for Parents (by Catherine Collins; 2001), and Plants That Poison (by Ervin M. Schmutz and Lucretia Breazeale Hamilton; 1979)
the red or black berries on holly are poisonous to humans as well, and can be fatal to small children if eaten in quantity.

If you believe your dog or cat has consumed holly berries, call your veterinarian for advice as soon as possible, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number, 888-426-4435 (not a free service).

how poisonous are poinsettias?

Just how poisonous are poinsettias? My mother lives in a nursing home, and the director just confiscated nearly 200 potted plants that were donated to residents for the holidays. I think he overreacted. Do you agree?

I agree with you. It is a fact that poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are in the Euphorbiaceae family, and the sap of plants in this family is irritating to the skin and eyes. However, it seems highly unlikely that people would be exposed to the sap of these plants, and it would take eating large quantities of leaves to become seriously ill. It’s not a good idea to eat the leaves of most indoor plants, in any case.

There is information about the degree to which poinsettias are poisonous on the following sites:

It’s possible the director of the nursing home was alarmed by a recent news story about a local woman who went to the emergency room after weeding in her garden and getting Euphorbia sap in her eye. There is a big difference between stationary houseplants which one mainly looks at without touching, and the aggressive and weedy Euphorbia species one pulls from the garden (only with gloves and goggles)!

on the safety of pickled walnuts

Is it safe to eat pickles made from unripe walnuts (including hulls)? Are some types of unripe walnuts safe to eat and others not safe? I am not sure what kind of walnut is in my garden.

I am also a bit worried by articles I found online which say that juglone from walnuts can cause cell damage. Maybe I should skip this culinary adventure?

Pickled walnuts (from English walnut, Juglans regia) are a traditional British delicacy. The Royal Horticultural Society even mentions them. Alys Fowler’s book, The Thrifty Forager (2011), says the walnuts for pickling must be picked in early summer before they harden. Traditionally, walnuts for pickling were harvested June 15, St. John’s feast day. The famous 16th century herbalist John Gerard said, “the green and tender Nuts boyled in Sugar eaten as a Suckad, are a most pleasant and delectable meat, comfort the stomacke, and expell poison.”

All walnut species have edible properties, though black walnut may be more bitter than English walnut. Edible East Bay published an article by Kristen Rasmussen in summer 2015 on pickling green walnuts from a native Californian species of walnut, Juglans californica.

Anyone who is sensitive to walnuts probably should avoid the pickled ones, too. Like many plants, walnuts have both edible uses and toxic properties. If you do not consume large quantities of walnuts (pickled or otherwise), I do not think there should be dire medical consequences. Toxic Plants of North America, 2nd ed., 2013 (Burrows and Tyrl) has a section on walnut (Juglans). The main toxicity concern discussed is that to horses, and in their case, it is mainly due to the use of walnut wood shavings in horse stalls.

A word about finding random articles on the internet: Context matters, and the citation you found about cell damage is in the context of using juglone (administered in a medical research facility) to kill cancer cells. It is not the context of everyday consumption of walnuts. Reliable sources are hard to find via the internet, and I would view with skepticism any site that is primarily commercial and does not cite trustworthy sources.

I could not find any references to the effects of pickling on the chemical composition of walnuts. Certainly, pickling (like any form of food preparation) will have some effects on nutrients. But since pickled walnuts are likely an occasional snack and not a staple upon which one’s diet is founded, there is no cause for concern.

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