Hydrangea

Hydrangea is a flowering plant that is also diverse, as they can be both evergreen and deciduous. These plants can be found on shrubs as well as climbers and trees. Another name is hortensia. Often found in gardens they look like big bunches of flowers in many colours that make it look like ice creams. However though, they're nothing of the sort! These plants are very sour tasting but more on this in a moment. Mostly decorative and gorgeous, these flowering plants have been used in Asia to make tea. There's something else you need to know about these flowers too: 

It's poisonous.

They shouldn't be eaten. This plant has cyanogenic glycoside, which releases hydrogen cyanide when eaten. The causes will result in stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. They're especially harmful to animals, including cats, rabbits, horses, hamsters and dogs. While it's not likely that anyone would want to chew on bitter and unpleasant tasting plants, even if they look like candies, it's best to seek medical help if someone has done this and may have allergies or suffering bad side effects. Animals that have eaten this plant should be taken to the vets. 

While poisonous, this plant has magical qualities. Known amongst healers, and witches, hydrangea bark and roots have medicinal properties to treat burns and muscle pain. Herbal tonics extracted from the hydrangea plant is for healing prostate infections, kidney stones and bladder problems. In folklore, the hydrangea plant is used in spells to lift curses and hexes. 

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