Are hostas poisonous?

Hostas come primarily from Japan. Since the perennials are hardy, they also thrive in the home garden. Since they get along well in partially shaded to shady locations, they are ideal plants for the dark corners of the garden. The only disadvantage of hostas is that they are on the menu of snails and other herbivores, because the plants are non-toxic.

Hostas

Hostas (Hosta) are a genus of their own. This belongs to the subfamily of the agave family (Agavoideae) in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). About 22 species belong to the genus of the heart petal lilies, as the hostas are also called. In this country they are mainly used as ornamental plants.

Toxic to humans?

All hosta species are non-toxic to humans. On the website of the Giftzentrale Bonn are

Hostas not listed. The flower buds are used in Japanese cuisine. But the flowers are also edible. They are candied, deep-fried, pickled in vinegar and oil or simply consumed as steamed vegetables. Since the leaves of hostas are also non-toxic, there is no danger for children who want to "try them out". However, like the other non-toxic parts of plants, they are not used in the kitchen, which is why they are sometimes classified as "inedible".

Note: In very sensitive people, the sap can cause (skin) irritation.

Toxic to animals?

Hostas are also non-toxic to many pets. This includes:

• Horses
• donkey
• Hares, rabbits
• dogs
• Cats
• Llamas, alpacas
• Tortoises
• Bovine
• Sheep
• Pigs
• Birds
• Goats

Hostas as fodder plants

Although hostas are non-toxic to hares and rabbits, they are not recommended as pure forage. However, there is no danger to the animals if they like hostas to eat in the garden. Rather, the danger is for the plant, as it suffers from being eaten away by the leaves.

Note: Since not all hares and rabbits like hostas, the plants are mistakenly classified as poisonous.

Hostas are good shade providers and hiding spots for tortoises. Since they are non-toxic for the animals, you can plant them in the turtle enclosure without hesitation. If the turtle likes the plant, you don't have to worry about the animal. But the plant also survives the appetite, because turtles usually never completely eat hostas.

dogs

Why man's best friend nibbles on plants has not yet been definitively clarified scientifically. What is certain, as every dog ​​owner knows, is that animals do. That is why the garden or garden should also be used in dog households. The balcony or terrace should be designed with plants that are non-toxic for dogs. With hostas you don't have to worry about that, because they are non-toxic for the four-legged friends.

Cats

Like man's best friend, cats also like to eat plants again and again. Which plant of

will be preferred to the "house tigers" cannot be predicted. So you can only discover a plant for yourself after years. If this is the case with hostas, you don't have to worry, because the plants are non-toxic for your darling.

Likelihood of confusion

On some Internet sites, hostas are referred to as the lily family (Liliaceae) assigned and therefore referred to as toxic. This may come from the German name "Herzblattlilie". From a botanical point of view, however, the plants are not related to one another. Planted out in the garden there is no risk of confusion with other plants, as hostas can be easily recognized by their spirally arranged leaves, which have long petioles. A mix-up of different hosta varieties can occur, however. However, since all varieties are classified as non-toxic, this is more of an optical problem than a health problem.

Sources:
http://www.gizbonn.de/284.0.html
http://www.lwg.bayern.de/mam/cms06/landespflege/dateien/essbare_pflanzen.pdf
https://www.botanikus.de/informatives/giftpflanzen/giftpflanzen-und-tiere/
https://www.vetpharm.uzh.ch/giftdb/indexd.htm