Q.Poisonous Cranberry Hibiscus Barbs
Loved having my cranberry hibiscus growing like mad, amazing foliage, flowers, calyxes for teas. Harvesting, sans gloves, last December a barb from a calyx went into my index finger. No problem; it’s part of the deal. Some I pluck out easily when they go in, but this one was lost. Couldn’t find an edge. Figured it would eventually find it’s way out. It didn’t and today I had surgery to my still swollen (more swollen) index finger. Have you heard of this before? Thanks! By the way, I went out with gloves and removed them all; self propagating as they are there are little babies popping up and I look at them and wonder… leave them or yank them? Have a nice day!
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Every thorned plant carries these risks. I once had a thorn stuck in my foot for 2 years that I thought I got out all of the way. One day, I was messing with it and it came out.
With that being said- We cannot offer medical advice. We recommend talking more with your doctors.
As far as the plants popping up- Yes, you want to remove them. They sap energy from the parent, and any separate seedling will only crowd your original over time.
