Hi guys! We have a couple of these plants in my mom’s backyard and these berries just started growing randomly. My toddlers saw them before us and started to pick them and throw them around. I don’t think they would put them in their mouth but if they did, how worried should I be? Thanks in advance!
Edit: in SoCal USA
Edit 2: it seems the consensus is Tasmanian Flax Lily. Just to be safe I’ll be calling poison control. Thank you guys so much!🥴
by kcubanita8
9 Comments
Following cuz I want to know too
Hi! These don’t look super familiar to me, so I don’t want to give you a half-baked guess. It would be helpful in identification to add your general area (such as state, if you’re in the US), and pictures of the plant/leaves, if you have them.
Wishing you the best of luck in identification, and hoping the kiddos stay happy and healthy! 💖
looks like porcelain berry to me but I’m just a random who doesn’t know squat except I think they’re pretty. not super (or at all) dangerous afaict but it spreads like a weed lol.
oops meant to include a link [https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/porcelain-vine/](https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/porcelain-vine/)
looks a lot like a tasmanian flax lily
edit: I don’t want to give you a 100% ID, since you’re worried about your kid, call poison control to be safe. but I will say we had something that looked extremely similar to this growing outside when I was a kid, my mom called it “monkey grass” though that name more commonly refers to liriope which is a different plant. I used to sit outside for hours picking the berries. when I googled it just now, some websites said the berries are edible, some said mildly toxic. the berries tasted like absolute shit in my memory
Compare to flax lily, *Dianella*. They’re kind of toxic, would cause quite a bit of stomach upset and possibly worth putting in a call to Poison Control if you think any was consumed.
Don’t know how to edit my post with a pic of the leaves up close so I’m posting it on this comment:
https://preview.redd.it/6shae7vn7mzg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f4bd3e8f89118a1ddbc522b6a6d3016363ad3c0
That plant Is a flax lily, but I think the berries came from a plant growing within it? They kinda look like the berries from Mondo grass.
Edit: there’s an “edible” version of a flax lily (blue flax lily) and the berries look very much like the ones you’re holding, so it’s very likely that. Some say toxic, some say it’s not, but they’re not good tasting either way apparently.
Disnella fruit toxic?
Hello, for what it’s worth, I agree it’s a Dianella (I’m from Aus). Have eaten berries and not been poisoned. Hope that provides some comfort!