Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a popular garden plant, admired for its fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers. Despite its delicate appearance, this perennial is highly toxic. Often used in bouquets and as groundcover, it poses a danger to both humans and animals. Understanding its risks is important for anyone who encounters it.
Understanding the Toxic Compounds
Lily of the Valley’s toxicity comes from cardiac glycosides, compounds that directly affect heart function. These include convallatoxin, convallatoxol, and convallosid, which inhibit the sodium-potassium pump, disrupting the heart’s electrical activity.
Every part of the plant—leaves, stems, flowers, and red berries—contains these poisonous substances. Roots, in particular, tend to have the highest concentration. Even water from a vase holding cut Lily of the Valley can absorb enough toxins to be hazardous if ingested.
Identifying Symptoms of Poisoning
Ingestion of Lily of the Valley can cause symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. In humans, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. More severe effects include irregular heartbeat, altered heart rate, low blood pressure, drowsiness, confusion, and blurred vision. Skin irritation or rashes may also occur from direct contact.
For pets, symptoms generally mirror those in humans, beginning with gastrointestinal upset like vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. Pets may also display lethargy, disorientation, weakness, and an unsteady gait. In more serious cases, cardiac arrhythmias, a drop in heart rate, seizures, and collapse can occur.
Severity and Factors Influencing Risk
The severity of Lily of the Valley poisoning varies significantly based on several factors. The amount of plant material consumed, body weight, and overall health play a large role. Mild ingestions might result only in gastrointestinal distress, but larger quantities can lead to life-threatening cardiac problems.
Children and small pets are particularly vulnerable due to their lower body weight. Individuals with pre-existing heart conditions are also at increased risk for more severe cardiac effects. Any suspected ingestion requires immediate attention, as the toxins can quickly affect the heart and other bodily systems.
What to Do in Case of Exposure
If Lily of the Valley ingestion is suspected, prompt action is essential. For humans, immediately contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or dial your local emergency number. When speaking with poison control, be prepared to provide details such as the person’s age, weight, symptoms, and if known, the part and approximate amount of the plant ingested, along with the time of ingestion. Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless specifically advised by a medical professional.
For pets, contact a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline without delay. Providing information about the pet’s size, health status, and the suspected amount and part of the plant consumed will assist in guiding treatment.
Preventative measures include keeping Lily of the Valley plants out of reach of children and pets, and safely discarding vase water. Wearing gloves when handling the plant can also help prevent skin irritation.