Table of contents
- hosts
- Toxic to humans?
- Toxic to animals?
- Hostas as fodder plants
- dogs
- cats
- risk of confusion
Hostas come primarily from Japan. Since the perennials are hardy, they also thrive in the home garden. Since they do well in semi-shady to shady locations, they are ideal plants for the dark corners of the garden. The only downside to hostas is that snails and other herbivores eat them because the plants are non-toxic.
hosts
hosts (Hosta) are a separate genus of plants. This belongs to the subfamily of the agave family (Agavoideae) in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The genus of heart leaf lilies, as hostas are also called, includes about 22 species. In this country they are mainly used as ornamental plants.
Toxic to humans?
All hosta species are non-toxic to humans. Hostas are not listed on the website of the Poison Control Center in Bonn. The flower buds are used in Japanese cuisine. But the flowers are also edible. They are candied, fried, pickled in vinegar and oil, or eaten simply as a steamed vegetable. Since hosta leaves are also non-toxic, there is no danger for children who want to "try" them. However, like the other non-toxic parts of the plant, they are not used in the kitchen, which is why they are sometimes classified as “inedible”.
Tip:
The sap can cause (skin) irritation in very sensitive people.
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 a forage plant only. However, there is no danger for the animals if they like hostas in the garden to eat. Rather, the danger is for the plant, as it suffers from the leaves being eaten away.
A notice:
Since not all bunnies and rabbits like hostas, the plants are wrongly classified as poisonous.
Hostas are good shade providers and hiding places for tortoises. Since they are non-toxic to the animals, you can safely plant them in the turtle enclosure. 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 finally clarified scientifically. What is certain, as any dog owner knows, is that animals do. Therefore, in dog households, the garden or Balcony or terrace can be designed with plants that are non-toxic to dogs. You don't have to worry about hostas because they are non-toxic to four-legged friends.
cats
Like man's best friend, cats always enjoy eating plants. It is not possible to predict which plant will be preferred by the "house tigers". So they can only discover a plant for themselves years later. If this is the case with hostas, you don't have to worry because the plants are non-toxic for your darling.
risk of confusion
Hostas are classified as lily plants on some websites (Liliaceae) assigned and therefore designated as poisonous. This may come from the German name "heart leaf lily". Botanically, however, the plants are not related. Planted in the garden, there is no risk of confusion with other plants, since hostas can be easily recognized by their spirally arranged leaves, which have long petioles. However, confusion between different Hosta varieties can occur. However, since all varieties are classified as non-toxic, this is more of a visual than a health issue.
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
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