Scientific Name
Hydrangea spp.
Common Name
Mountain hydrangea, French hydrangea, peegee hydrangea, oak-leaf hydrangea

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Saxifragaceae
Plant Description
Deciduous shrubs; leaves opposite, simple, stalked, toothed and sometimes lobed; flowers in terminal, round or umbrella-shaped clusters, white, pink, or blue, 4- 5-parted, the sterile flowers (around the margin or the entire cluster) are much enlarged.
Origin
USA, Asia.
Distribution
Mountains and Piedmont, cultivated.
Where Found
Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape as woody shrub; forest or natural area as native shrub.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Bark, leaves, flower buds.
Symptoms
Nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, sweating.
Toxic Principle
Hydrangin, a cyanogenic glycoside.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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