Any bad experiences from African milk bush?

19 years ago

I have been growing this plant for over fifteen years, and have had the milky sap all over me with no bad results. Only recently have I looked up any information on this plant, and I see all kinds of warnings. The reason I am asking, is that several people wanted cuttings of this plant and I started to look up information on it. When I bought it, the man that sold it to me called it African milkweed, and that is what I have been calling it for all these years. I see it named Synadenium grantii 'Rubrum' as well as Synadenium compactum 'Ruby'. I really don't want to give a plant to someone unless I give them the 'Down and dirty' as well as the good. Thanks.

Bill

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dohrmank

16 years ago

After watching someone else put the sap on their tongue without negative affects I tried it. It burns!! At first it is just kinda spicy hot but mostly flavorless, then it slowly heats up as it kills the affected taste buds. My taste buds eventually returned after weeks. Do not get this stuff in your eyes or expose to the skin. It didn't bother my skin but it might irritate others. This plant is fun to grow. the branches can be easily manipulated into circles and spirals. It bends easily. As the branches turn downwards it grows new shoots from the sections pointing down which then grow backward trying to right itself. I am trying to grow it into a circling, spiraling bush instead of a drooping vine. I planted a 'lucky bamboo' in the same pot (bury a bottle and keep it full of water with bamboo in 8" of standing water)and use it to hold up the milk bush. I tie the circles to the bamboo stalk. I love this plant but don't recommend personal contact with the sap.

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Comments (9)

mr_subjunctive
19 years ago
I looooooooooooove my Synadenium, personally. Big big fan. I've never had any bad experiences with the current one, or the one I had about five years ago, as far as skin irritation: the only problem I've ever had is that they grow so fast that it's hard to keep finding new places for them to go (which is what happened to the one five years ago, that I ran out of room: this time I'm planning for it).

I don't have problems with Euphorbiaceae spp. in general, so my skin may not be representative.
biwako_of_abi
19 years ago
Not just skin--I have never been able to find info on which species have the most dangerous sap, but I was told that someone in the local cactus and succulent society got some sort of euphorbia sap in an eye and had a painful and frightening experience, losing his sight in it for several days. He was all right in the end, but I should think it would pay to be very careful not to get even a bit of residue of euph. sap in one's eyes. I have never personally had any skin trouble from either synadenium or euphorbia sap.
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florey
19 years ago
Here's a lot of info, awful reactions to many species. Be very cautious about pruning and repotting. It cautions to WEAR GLOVES.
User
19 years ago
Florey,

Were you posting a link ("Here's a lot of info") or did you mean to say "There's a lot of info.)?

Bill,

Pls. read lower down this page to a Post entitled "Euphorbia tirucalli - the plant from Hell" for an instance of bad reaction.

Euphorbia sap reactions vary btwn different kinds of Euphorbias (of which there are very many), as well as degrees of sensitivity varying from person to person. To be on the safest side, I'd mention the caution to people just in case.

That said, I grow a number of different Euph. milliis & also E. francoisii w/out any bad reaction myself & I handle them bare-handed, cutting some of them back annually.
florey
19 years ago
Whoops ! Here it is. Scroll down.

Look out for the sap.

Here is a link that might be useful: a list of Euphorbia species, with reactions
greenthumbgardener
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks to everyone for the input. Before I did my original posting, I took 10 cuttings without the benefit of gloves and so far no rash. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I don't understand that because I get poison oak and poison ivy very readily. Anyway, I will pass on the information to the people I give the plants to. (If they still want them) LOL!
Bill
xoscottox
19 years ago
In college, we had a massive milk bush growing in the school's greenhouse. I hacked and chopped that sucker down to start a blue million cuttings.

I never broke out in any sort of rash, but when I woke up the next morning my face was swollen incredibly. The only thing that I ever guessed was that some of the sap had dried on my hands and I rubbed my eyes sometime during the night.

My face was so swollen and the skin stretch so much. It was really odd.

SCRUB EVERY LAST BIT OF SAP OFF YOUR HANDS, is the best advice I can give
kkleeson58
10 years ago
I was given a Synadeium grantii (African Milk Bush) by a gardening friend. Everything was fine - (it looked very attractive and healthy in a large pot) - until, alas! the day that I decided to prepare a cutting (by stripping several leaves along the stem of a broken piece of the plant) for a suitable piece to strike in potting mix. There was an excessive milky substance each time a leaf was removed. I attempted to wash my hands - but they still felt "sticky" for a time. Approx. 30 minutes later - I had the most dreadful reaction affecting both eyes. (I cannot recall rubbing my eyes??). However, both eyes began to burn, sting along with extreme pain. Unable to open or close eyes even briefly without severe pain; also extremely sensitive to light. Headed straight to Dr - still in agony (driven by spouse). After being prescribed various medications for a severe allergic reaction - approx 5 hours later the stinging, burning and pain eased considerably. On visiting an eye specialist 3 days later my eyes were still watery and displayed signs of a major irritation. Be very careful when handling this plant - especially if a cane/stalk is damaged, broken or cut. Gardening gloves are essential in these situations.