Fire Stick Plants are Poisonous

Fire Stick Plants are also called Eurphobia Tirucalli, Pencil Cactus. Pretty and poisonous.

When I hear about something like this first hand from a trusted friend, I am happy to have it in my blog and use it to help spread the word.

Here’s her story and warning against the milky sap that may squirt out of them:

Jan. 2018, I pruned the plant, then became aware that a spot of sap landed near my eye.

The eye started burning; I immediately started washing my eye with water in an eye cup. Had to immediately go to ER (Scripps Mercy Hospital); they called Poison Control Center. ER nurse had to spend 20 minutes medically flushing eye out.

I had to take a number of prescriptions and pain was excruciating for hours. If you must deal with these beautiful, yet highly poisonous plants, please wear goggles, long sleeves, long pants and maybe even a mask over your mouth.

They are extremely easy to grow and they grow quickly. Best to get rid of them. I almost lost my eye sight.

Besides eyesight, sap can also affect skin and respiratory system.

Don’t let that happen to you, your kids or grandkids or pets. They grow all over our community.

Check this out, it’s about animal poisoning from Pencil Cactus (same plant) https://wagwalking.com/condition/pencil-cactus-poisoning.

So then I started wondering what else we should look out for in San Diego and did some research.

The Province Journal Provides these additional thoughts:

• Pacific Poison-Oak Identifiable by its 3-leaf clusters growing as vines or shrubs, the Pacific poison-oak is widespread and problematic throughout California. According to the UC-Davis Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, “Poison-oak is considered one of the most hazardous plants in the western United States. Its milky, poisonous oil, containing a compound called urushiol, can cause a severe skin rash.”
• Datura (aka Jimsonweed, Angel’s Trumpet)  Its trumpet-like flowers look innocent enough, but in reality they play a sinister tune. Datura stramonium is known by many (and ingested by a few) for its strong hallucinogenic effects. But the smallest intake can lead to a long list of strong and even strange side effects that can take days or even weeks from which to recover. This weed is all over California and you’d be well-advised to avoid experimenting with its psychedelic reputation.