Q
I’ve seen mixed comments regarding purple hopseed bushes being toxic to
animals. Do you happen to know if they are or not? Any help would be appreciated!
A.
Keep in mind that about 60 to 70% of all landscape plants are poisonous in one
way or another. Toxicity depends on the dose given. I have never considered hopseed
a poisonous plant. I checked with another source of information that I consider
reliable, and he does not recognize it as poisonous which agrees with my
original assessment.
Because this source does not consider this
plant toxic and the fact that it was previously used by indigenous peoples as a
health remedy, I don’t consider it a “poisonous” landscape plant if eaten in
moderation. Not as toxic as oleander, tree tobacco, or yellow oleander for
instance which have been grown here by backyard gardeners.