Goats do not touch it. And goats ate my sweater.
That alone should tell every traveller everything they need to know about oleander.
If a Cretan goat — a creature that happily eats sweaters, plastic bags, cardboard boxes, wires, cigarette filters, and occasionally your car mirror — refuses to nibble a plant, you must treat that plant as radioactive danger in pink-flower form.
And oleander is dangerous.
Quietly, beautifully, deceptively dangerous.
Yes, Oleander Is Highly Poisonous
Oleander (Nerium oleander) grows everywhere in Crete:
- on highways
- in village squares
- near beaches
- along gorges
- outside hotels
- in pretty decorative gardens
Tourists see the pink and white blossoms and think Wow, Mediterranean paradise.
Locals see it and think, “Don’t let the kids touch it, don’t let the dog eat it, and don’t burn it in the fireplace unless you want to meet God early.”
Every part of the plant is toxic:
- leaves
- flowers
- stems
- roots
- sap
- smoke when burned
It is one of the most poisonous ornamental plants in Europe.
What Makes Oleander Dangerous
Oleander contains cardiac glycosides similar to those in digitalis.
These chemicals affect the heart.
Ingesting even a small amount can cause:
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- slowed heartbeat
- irregular heartbeat
- cardiac arrest (in extreme cases)
Animals are at risk too: dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, and even birds.
And yes — even touching your mouth after touching the plant can cause mild symptoms if the sap gets on your skin.
Why It Matters for Travellers in Crete
Because oleander grows everywhere on the island. Tourists often:
- take cute photos with the flowers
- let kids pick them
- let pets sniff or chew fallen branches
- bring cut stems into rental rooms
- collect them for “pretty decorations”
- accidentally burn them in summer barbecues
All of these are mistakes.
How to Stay Safe Around Oleander
1. Do not let children pick the flowers
The sap is dangerous.
2. Do not let dogs chew it
Dogs get severe poisoning fast.
3. Do not burn oleander wood
Inhaled smoke can make you sick.
4. Do not use branches for campfires or skewers
Cretans know better — tourists do not.
5. Wash your hands if you touch the plant
Especially before eating.
6. Keep it away from food preparation
Never use oleander as decoration on plates.
7. If symptoms appear, seek medical help immediately
Tell doctors “oleander exposure” — they know exactly what to do.
What Cretans Say About It
Locals respect the plant but never trust it.
You will often hear: “Όμορφο φυτό, άσχημο δηλητήριο.”
(Beautiful plant, ugly poison.)
Or the classic:
“Αν δεν το τρώει η κατσίκα, μην το ακουμπάς.”
(If the goat will not eat it, you should not touch it.)
And believe me — if goats avoid something, it is basically nuclear.
Travellers Beware
Oleander is beautiful, photogenic, and part of the Cretan landscape — but so are scorpions, cliffs, and waves that drown swimmers.
Crete is wild.
Crete is real.
And like all wild places, it demands respect.
You can admire oleander.
Just do not taste it, do not burn it, and do not let your children or animals near it.
