One of the joys of visiting Josephine Flower Farm is discovering just how many shapes, colours and textures can grow in a flower field. It is also important to remember that a beautiful bloom is not necessarily an edible one.
Many flowers are grown for ornamental use. Some plants can be harmful if eaten, while others may irritate the skin, eyes or mouth. That is why our simplest farm rule is also the most important:
Please do not taste any flower, leaf, seed, berry, bulb or other plant material at the farm unless Josephine Flower Farm has specifically identified it as edible.
“Grown without synthetic pesticides” does not mean “edible”
Our growing practices and a plant’s natural chemistry are two different things. A plant can be grown without synthetic pesticides and still contain naturally occurring compounds that should not be eaten. Safety can also depend on the exact species or variety, the part of the plant, how it was handled and how it was prepared.
Please treat U-Pick flowers and decorative bouquets as ornamental. Only consume a Josephine product when it is expressly sold and labelled for culinary use—for example, a product clearly marked “Culinary Grade — Safe to Eat.” A decorative flower that happens to share the same common name is not automatically food-safe.
Some plants you may recognize
Our fields and gardens change throughout the season. The following are examples of familiar ornamental plants that call for care; this is not a complete inventory or a complete toxic-plant list.
- Foxglove, larkspur and delphinium: striking garden flowers that should never be eaten.
- Daffodils and other narcissus: all parts are for decorative use, and the bulbs are especially easy to mistake for edible bulbs.
- Sweet peas: ornamental sweet peas are not the same plant as edible garden peas. Their pods and seeds must not be eaten.
- Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana), hydrangea and Apple of Peru: ornamental flowers, pods and berries are decorative only.
- Ranunculus and anemones: fresh plant juices can irritate sensitive skin or the mouth.
- Euphorbia: its milky sap can irritate skin and can be especially harmful to the eyes.
- Ammi: plant sap on the skin, followed by sunlight, may cause a reaction in some people.
If sap gets on your skin, avoid touching your face and wash the area promptly with soap and water. Tell a member of our team if an exposure happens during your visit.
Keeping children safe in the flower field
Flowers, berries, pods and seeds can be especially tempting to curious children. Please keep children close, supervise them actively and remind them to ask an adult before putting anything from a garden in their mouth. Even a non-toxic plant can be a choking hazard.
Please pick only in the areas and rows opened by our team, follow posted signs and harvesting instructions, and leave unfamiliar berries, pods, bulbs and plant parts untouched.
A note about pets and bouquets at home
Pets are not permitted at the farm, apart from service animals as allowed by law and arranged with us in advance. At home, remember that a plant’s safety for people does not establish its safety for cats, dogs or other animals. Keep bouquets and fallen plant material out of reach, and contact your veterinarian or an animal poison service promptly if you suspect that a pet has eaten something harmful.
If someone eats or touches an unknown plant
Do not rely on a guess or on whether birds and wildlife eat the same plant. Note the plant’s name if known, the part involved, the approximate amount, when the exposure occurred and any symptoms.
For advice in Ontario, contact the Ontario Poison Centre. It is available 24 hours a day at 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669). If someone is choking, having difficulty breathing, collapses or has another medical emergency, call 911.
Enjoy the flowers—with care
We want every visit to feel joyful, relaxed and full of discovery. A little garden awareness helps make that possible: admire generously, harvest only where invited, supervise children closely and eat only products that are clearly labelled for culinary use.
If you are uncertain about a plant while visiting Josephine Flower Farm, please ask us before touching, cutting or tasting it. We are always happy to help.
Sources and important note: Visitor guidance is informed by the Ontario Poison Centre’s plant-safety information and its seasonal safety guidance. This article provides general safety information, not medical advice, and is not an exhaustive list of plants or possible reactions. Plantings change during the season.
