Content
- The frankincense plant is not poisonous
- The frankincense plant is not poisonous
- Frankincense plants are not hardy
- Tips
The frankincense plant should not be eaten
The frankincense plant is not poisonous
The frankincense plant (botanical Plectranthus) - not to be confused with the frankincense tree (Boswellia) is one of the non-toxic ornamental plants. However, since the smell indicates a high concentration of essential oils, frankincense plants are not suitable for consumption.
The frankincense plant is not poisonous
The frankincense does not contain any toxins, so it is considered non-toxic to humans or animals. Nevertheless, the consumption of the shoots should be avoided, as the plant contains many essential oils, which may possibly lead to nausea.
You can safely cultivate frankincense on the balcony or even as a houseplant, if you do not mind the strong smell. It is not excluded that just cats do not like the smell. Therefore, only grow incense plants if all human and animal inhabitants can cope with it.
Frankincense plants are not hardy
Most frankincense plants are kept only one year, because they are not hardy. They have to be wintered in the house. Finding a good place for it is not easy. He must be bright and cool, but frost-free.
Unfortunately, the incense plant exudes its typical smell during the winter. If you or your pets react very sensitively to smells, you should completely abstain from incense plants. As an alternative, you can only pull it once a year, so that the odor nuisance during the winter in the house is eliminated.
Tips
Some varieties of the incense plant emit such a strong smell of frankincense that they are planted as a so-called "verpiss-you plant" on property boundaries. They should keep animals away from the garden. While some gardeners swear by this measure, others are convinced of the uselessness.