Beware Using Flowers on Cakes

based on an article written by Tombi Peck, editor of the The British Sugarcraft News

This article was written in response to a letter asking if there exists a list of poisonous flowers. Tombi says that after much research, she compiled a list which was too lengthy to print in full, so she chose to include only those plants and flowers which have appeared in sugarcraft books over the past few years (and those that are so highly toxic that they really needed to be on the list). If a bride is looking for ideas in a sugarcraft book, she should be aware that just because a particular flower is shown in sugar DOES NOT mean that the actual flower is non-toxic and safe for use on a cake.

During her research, Tombi spoke to John Quai Hoi, a chef and florist from Australia. He pointed out that flowers grown commercially are habitually sprayed with nasty pesticides to rid them of bugs and to prevent disease. These chemicals may very well be hazardous to people if ingested (once the flower has come in contact with icing).

The writer of the original letter (asking about poisonous flowers) did some research of her own, and learned from a florist that although one might think roses are a safe flower to use, lilac roses attract a wide variety of bugs. To counteract the problem, growers spray lilac roses liberally with insecticide, which is why that particular rose is softer than roses in other colours.

Here is the list of problem flowers:

Amarylis, Angels'Trumpet, Anthurium Flamingo Lily, Arum Lilies, Calla Lilies [Lords and Ladies], Autumn Crocus, Azaleas, Bird of Paradise, Bittersweet, Black-eyed Susan, Bleeding Heart, Bluebell, Burning Bush, Buttercup, Caladium, Chincherinchee, Christmas Rose, Christmas Cherry, Chrysanthemum, Clivia, Cobra Lily, Common vetch, Corncockle, Corn Poppy, Crocus, Daffodil, Jonquil, Daphne, Delphinium, Dragon Arum, Flame Lily, Fly honeysuckle, Foxglove, Goldenchain tree, Guelder-rose, Golden Trumpet, Hardy Passionflower, Holly Berry, Horse Chestnut, Hoya, Hyancinth, Hydrangea, Iceland Poppy, Iris, Ivy, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Larkspur, Lenten Rose, Leopard Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Lily family, Lobelia, Lupins, Marsh Marigold, Mistletoe, Monkshood, Morning Glory, Narcissus, Night Blooming Jasmine, Oak, Oleander, Opium Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Peace Lily, Peruvian Lily, Philodendron, Primula, Rue, Snowdrop, Scarlet Pimpernel, Star of Bethlehem, St.Johns Wort, Hypericum, Sweet Pea, Sun Flower, Tobacco Plant, Tulip, Virginia Creeper, Weeping Fig, Wisteria. LOW TOXICITY: African violet, Busy Lizzie, Chinese Lantern, Clematis, Fuchsia, Grape Hyacinth, Honesty, Mahonia, Poinsettia.

Tombi's conclusion: fresh flowers are more trouble than they are worth. Do we really want fresh flowers on cakes? The answer is a firm NO.

Flowers list in alphabetical order using their common names. An asterisk appears next to the more highly toxic plants.

Note that not all parts of these plants are poisonous, but as we are talking about putting them on food, it is best to err on the side of caution...

Amaryllis (Amaryllis Belladonna, Amaryllis Vittata)

Angel's Trumpet (Datura Innoxia)

Anthurium, Flamingo Lily (Anthurium Andraeanum)

Arum Lilies, Calla Lilies, Lords and Ladies (Zantedeschia, Calla Palustris)

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Autumnalle)

Azaleas (Rhododendron)

Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia)

Bittersweet

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Serotina)

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra, Dicentra Formosa)

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides Nonscripta)

Burning-bush (Euonymus Atropurpureus)

Buttercup

Caladium (Caladium Bicolour)

Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum)

Christmas Rose (Helleborous Niger)

Christmas Cherry (Solanum)

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Indicum)

Clivia (Clivia Miniata)

Cobra Lily (Arisaema)

Common Vetch (Vicia Salvia)

Corncockle (Agrostemma Gitbago)

Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas)

Crocus (Colchicum)

Daffodil, Jonquil (Narcissus)

Daphne (Daphne)

Delphinium

Dragon Arum (Dracunculus)

Flame Lily (Gloriosa Superba)*

Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera Xylosteum Lonicera Tatarica)

Foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea)

Goldenchain Tree (Laburnum)

Golden Trumpet (Allamanda Cathartica)

Guelder-rose (Viburnum Opulus)

Hardy Passionflower (Passiflora Caerulea)

Holly Berry (Hex)

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum)

Hoya (Hoya Australis)

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)

Hydrangea (Hydrangea Macrophylla)

Iceland Poppy (Papaver Nudicaule)

Iris (Iris)

Ivy (Hedera Helix)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema Triphyllum)

Larkspur (Consolida Ambigua)

Lenten Rose (Helleborous)

Leopard Lily (Dieffenbachia)

Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria Majalis)

Lily family ( Too many to list, most lilies are potentially poisonous)

Lobelia

Lupins(Lupinus)

Marsh Marigold

Mistletoe (Phoradendron Serotinum)

Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus)*

Morning Glory (Ipomea Violacea, Tricolour)

Narcissus (Narcissus)

Night Blooming Jasmine

Oak (Quaercus)

Oleander (Nerinum Oleander)

Opium Poppy (Papaver Somniferum)

Oriental Poppy (Papaver Orientale)

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria Ligtu)

Philodendron

Primula(Primula Obconica)

Rue (Ruta Graveolens)

Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis Arvensis)

Snowdrop (Galanthus Nivalis)

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum Umbellatum)

St. Johns Wort, Hypericum (Hypericum)

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus Odoratus)

Sun Flower (Helianthus Annuus)

Tobacco Plant (Nicotina)

Tulip (Tulipa Gesneriana)

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus Quinquefolia)

Weeping Fig (Ficus)

Wisteria (Wisteria Floribunda)

Low Toxicity

African Violet (Saintpaulia Ionantha)

Busy Lizzie (Impatiens)

Chinese Lantern (Physalis Alkekengi)

Clematis

Fuchsia

Grape Hyacinth

Honesty (Lunaria Annua)

Mahonia

Poinsettia (Euphorbia Pulchirrima)