Are Zinnias Poisonous?

Zinnias are becoming a popular plant as they bloom bright and colorful flowers every year. This growing popularity can be concerning to parents, and animal owners alike as many plants in the world are poisonous to humans and animals. So, do you need to be worried about Zinnias?

Zinnias are among the many plants that are non-toxic to both humans and animals. Zinnias are used in many different recipes around the world and are said to have a bitter taste. If you consume an excessive amount of Zinnias, this is when you will have some negative side effects, like vomiting.

Are Zinnia’s Poisonous To Humans?

Zinnias are used almost everywhere nowadays; you will find them growing in gardens, placed in bouquets at the store, or even dried out and placed in different flower arrangements.

With the Zinnias increasing popularity, you may be concerned for the health of yourself, your family, and your children as everyone is being exposed more and more to this plant. There is a higher chance of the plant being consumed accidentally, especially by children.

So, do you really need to be concerned about your family’s health when it comes to the Zinnia plant?

Zinnias are non-toxic to humans and are actually considered one of the many edible plants that humans can safely consume. There are several recipes that use the petals of the Zinnias flower as an ingredient.

Even though the entire Zinnias plant is considered edible, the petals are usually the only part of the plant used for cooking, and they are said to have a bitter taste. So, if your child or a member of your family eats a piece of the Zinnias plant, you have nothing to worry about.

Red Zinnia
Yay Red Zinnia

Are Zinnia’s Poisonous To Dogs?

So, now that you know your family is safe when consuming the Zinnias plant, you may be wondering about your furry friend. Several plants are poisonous to dogs, and you need to ensure that none of them are planted in your garden and that there are none on your regular walking route.

As Zinnias are becoming more popular and seem to be planted outside of every second neighbor’s house and may even be popping up in your garden due to their seeds being able to spread pretty far, which may raise a few concerns about your dog’s safety.

Zinnias are, thankfully, non-toxic to dogs. Zinnias are one of the plants that dogs may choose to eat when they feel they need a bit of greenery in their diets or their stomach is slightly upset. So, there is no need to worry if your dog snacks on a flower or two during your walk.

Are Zinnia’s Poisonous To Cats?

With the number of Zinnias appearing in your neighborhood, you may be concerned for your cat’s health, as most people have little to no say over their cat’s whereabouts most of the time, which does translate over to the cat’s diet too.

Who knows what your cat decides to try and eat whiles it’s off on its travels, and with the number of plants in the world that are toxic to cats, the Zinnias in your neighborhood may have you worried.

Luckily, Zinnias are not toxic to cats, and cats can also eat the whole Zinnia plant without any negative reaction.

Zinnias
Yay Zinnias

Are Zinnia’s Poisonous To Livestock?

Dog and cat owners in urban areas are not the only people worried about the number of Zinnias appearing everywhere. Livestock owners are just as concerned for the health of their livestock when it comes to the Zinnias plant.

Thankfully, the Zinnias plant seems to be non-toxic to every animal that has crossed its path and eaten it. You do not have to be worried about any of the animals that make up your livestock consuming this plant, as the entire plant is edible.

Can Eating Excessive Amounts Of Zinnias Be Harmful?

Eating excessive amounts of the Zinnia plant can be harmful to humans, dogs, cats, and many livestock animals, but this is still not likely to kill them. The exact amount considered excessive will depend on the animals or the human’s age and size.

Younger and smaller animals and humans will require a smaller amount of the Zinnia’s plant for it to be considered an excessive amount for them when compared to an adult or a bigger animal that will require a fairly large amount of the Zinnias plant before they are negatively affected.

When too much of the Zinnia’s plant is consumed in one sitting, the animal or human will have some negative side-effects that are pretty unpleasant, but they should resolve by themselves over a few hours.

The symptoms you will notice in an animal or human that has consumed too many Zinnias include:

  • Vomiting
  • Increased urination
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Dehydration

If you see no change in the symptoms after 12 hours, you should seek medical attention to prevent the human or animal from becoming too dehydrated, which could kill them.

Are There Considerations When Consuming Zinnias?

Even though Zinnias are non-toxic, if you want to consume the Zinnias you have in your garden or find in a park, there are a few considerations you need to go through before you eat them.

You should never eat the Zinnias raw and straight from the plant as the plant could have insects or other problems that may make you sick. For example, if the plant has a disease that you are unaware of and you consume the plant, you could suffer from an upset stomach for a few hours.

So, you should always cook your Zinnias before you eat them. Before you pick the Zinnias, another factor to keep in mind is; have the Zinnias been treated in any way?

The Zinnias may not be toxic themselves, but if they were sprayed with chemicals like herbicides or insecticides, these could be toxic to you and damage your health.

Suppose compost was added to the soil around the Zinnias. In that case, this could also be dangerous to your health, as compost generally has the excrement of different animals in it that could carry diseases and pests that could be passed on to you through the plant.

If you want to consume your Zinnias, you need to make sure you know exactly what the Zinnias have been exposed to and treated with to ensure they are safe and will not damage your health.