Canna Leaves Poisonous?

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:57 am

Can anybody tell me definitively that canna leaves are not poisonous?

I have some lovely cannas with big leaves that I would like to use to wrap food for steaming (as in Asian cooking), but I can't get anyone to tell me whether they are suitable or not. I've even asked the Poisons Centre, but they just say 'it's not on our list of poisonous plants' but won't guarantee that it is not poisonous.

dufflight · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:24 am

I heard that you can eat canna but it tastes like ****. Arrowroot is called an edible canna. Just invite some people your not fussed on around for a BBQ. Feed them first. :thunbs:

If not check with the vet. If animals eat it. :dunno:

Simo · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:12 am

I Just typed "are Canna leaves poisonous" into google and found this on a Q & A forum.

" Question
I live in Gold Canyon AZ, which is close to Phoenix.
Our landscape design company planted several canna lillies in our newly done yard. A fellow who maintains our yard told me that these plants produce a very poisonous bean. Since we have two small grandchildren and two small dogs that use the yard, I am concerned. Can you inform me whether that is accurate info.

Thank you

Answer
Hi Don,
Thanx for your question. All parts of the calla lily are poisonous and can be fatal if ingested. I would remove them if your pets are prone to chewing on plants and if you have small children. Even just chewing will cause swelling of the mouth and severe diarhea. I hope this helps.
Tom"

Simo · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:17 am

I found another site that states

"Non-toxic: These plants are not poisonous or there is no known record of toxicity. Exposure to these plants is not expected to cause any symptoms."

Thats the problem with the world wired intraweb anyone with a PC can add information with out nessesarily knowing what they are talking about. I think some people get canna lilly mixed up with the aurum lilly.

I would not risk it.

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:51 am

Wow! Thanks Simo. Why didn't I think of doing that? (don't respond, please. I think I know the answer.)

Sounds like I should just enjoy my cannas and wait until I can grow a banana here in the South West. That's going to be a bit tricky with temps ranging between 2 and 42C degrees or so, but I'm hoping to create a micro-climate and do just that. I already have both cherry and pineapple growing.

Simo · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:23 pm

What sort of conditions do cherries need, maybe you could start another post?

dufflight · **Posted:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:40 pm

Asked around and the canna is okay. I'd still go with arrowroot.

nick · **Joined:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:14 pm **Posts:** 3

read the reply, it is talking about calla lillies and not neccessarily about canna lillies.

Try looking at the greenharvest website theey have a discussion page about chook fodder plants that I think discusses canna lillies and definately arrowroot as a chook food.

Tristrin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:56 pm

Just read this thread and yes i also noticed that the answer given was about calla lillies, not canna lillies, two different plants. I don't know if canna lillies are poisonous to humans, but goats eat them without any problems. But calla lillies are very poisonous and our daughter chewed on a leaf when she was about 5 or 6. She instantly spat it out, but i rang the poison information centre and was told to get her to rinse her mouth out well, which we had got her to already do, and to keep an eye on her. Luckilly she had not swollowed any and she learn't not to chew un-known plants.

gnash · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:57 pm

I know that this has nothing to do with the poison factor.....But......canna's are excellent along your old septic tank leach drains.
They suck up all the "goodness" and take away the smell in summer.

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