The Chelsea Flower Show has approved a plant that causes pain 'as bad as childbirth'.
Also known as the Great Spring Show, it is held every year at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London.
The show has been attended by members of the British Royal Family since 1912 and features the leading names in the garden-design community who take centre stage to display 36 show gardens.
Around 157,000 visitors make their way to the venue each year to witness an impressive display of native plants, trees, nettles, dandelions and a predominantly green palette of planting.
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But it seems that this year’s show is likely to spark controversy, according to garden designer Andrew Duff, co-chair of the Society of Garden Designers and managing director of the Inchbald School of Design.
“There’s a clear message about sustainability and environmental factors in an aesthetic way. There’s a loss about actually, what is a garden supposed to do?” he says.
“Right across the show, the inference is that nature’s taking control… maybe that it’s OK to let weeds grow and let things get a little bit ruinous.
“But at the end of the day, people like a lawn, they like to look after a space – that’s part of being in a garden – and it’s time that we need (to address) that controversy,” Duff adds.
Amid the current climate crisis, the RHS has encouraged the use of drought-resistant plants which will use up less resources.
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However, on its list of approved plants is euphorbia myrsinites (myrtle spurge).
Garden expert Tony Hall says: "Euphorbias are a great group of plants. Most are evergreen, and some are herbaceous and die back in the winter, regrowing the following spring."
Unfortunately, euphorbia myrsinites also happens to release a highly toxic sap and is listed by the RHS as a potentially harmful garden plant.
Financial Times gardening columnist Robin Lane Fox says if the sap comes into contact with your eyes - it is similar to that of childbirth.
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Fox has banned the tree from his garden, stating: "Symptoms, in general, start two to eight hours after contact and can increase in intensity within the next twelve hours," according to a study.
"Skin manifestations range from erythema, edema and vesicles to development of bullae, ulcers and necrosis and are often accompanied by painful burning or itching sensations."
So yeah, not ideal if you get it in your eye.
An RHS spokesperson told UNILAD: “All plants should be handled with care unless they are known not to cause irritation.
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“All parts of euphorbia plants may cause severe discomfort if ingested and the contact with the sap may irritate the skin or eyes.
“We advise people to wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling, especially when pruning.”
Topics: Environment