This Popular Plant is Banned In Some Areas of Utah Because It Can Poison Pets

The Oleander Plant: Beauty with a Hidden Danger

The Oleander is a popular plant found in Utah and all around the southwest. It is also poisonous to humans and pets. This is what WebMD says about the chemicals found in this popular bush: 

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a flowering shrub. It contains chemicals called toxic cardiac glycosides, which can lead to death when consumed. 

For this reason, some homeowner associations do not allow the plant to be put in yards. This one banned the plant as they have horses in the area and they do not want them eating the plant unawares. 

Homeowner Association Regulations: Keeping Your Pets Safe

The number of poisonings from the Oleander plant are pretty rare. There was a tragic case where two toddlers died from ingesting the toxins in Los Angeles in 2000. The children had picked and ate the leaves and passed away that night. 

This article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal says Oleanders get a bad rap as the leaves are so bitter that animals and people won't eat them and that most of the poisonings come from people who ingest it on purpose. They say the plant is beneficial in creating a barrier like along freeways. 

Homeowner Association Regulations: Keeping Your Pets Safe

There are rules where you can plant them in St. George which includes agricultural zones and certain open spaces. If you don’t have any restrictions, it can be a nice plant, especially when the flowers blossom. 

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Take care when trimming it. You will want to wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt as the toxins can get through the skin. If you are worried about children or pets getting into it, remove it from high traffic areas.