A bride-to-be faced a potentially dangerous situation when she unknowingly sought out flowers that were toxic to both humans and animals. Madison Mcglinn and her bridesmaid, Chloe Doven, stumbled upon a tree adorned with what Mcglinn described as her “dream wedding flowers” during a visit to Sydney, Australia. Doven decided to pick a bouquet of these bright, trumpet-shaped blooms, climbing atop a car to reach them, which Mcglinn later documented in a TikTok video.
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The social media clip quickly gained popularity, amassing over 7.1 million views and 1.1 million likes. However, rather than receiving admiration for the charming floral discovery, the pair were bombarded with alarming comments from viewers warning them of the flowers’ toxicity. “Aren’t those flowers really dangerous???” one user cautioned, while another added, “Aren’t they super poisonous flowers? 😳.”
Reflecting on the reaction, Mcglinn expressed her shock at discovering the dangers associated with the flowers. “We were shocked to see they were poisonous,” she told PEOPLE magazine. The incident prompted her to share a follow-up post, revealing that her “smile faded very quickly” after reading through the nearly 2,000 comments on her original video.
The flowers in question are believed to be Brugmansia, commonly known as angel’s trumpet. This plant is often mistaken for Datura and features night-blooming, fragrant blossoms. Health experts have identified that Brugmansia contains toxic anticholinergic compounds such as atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which can lead to severe poisoning when any part of the plant—leaves, flowers, or seeds—is ingested. Symptoms may include nausea, hallucinations, and blurred vision, with a study from 2014 noting that consuming as few as ten flowers could be fatal.
In a further update on TikTok, Mcglinn attempted to lighten the mood by making a joke about the close call, reassuring her followers that both she and Doven were perfectly fine. Despite the influx of warnings, the pair hadn’t experienced any adverse effects, as they had not consumed the flowers. “Four days had passed since we picked the flowers, and we had no reactions at all,” she explained.
Although initially captivated by the idea of incorporating Brugmansia into her wedding bouquet, Mcglinn clarified that her florist had already advised against the choice. While the floral arrangement was not an outright safety concern, the florist noted that the delicate blooms lacked longevity. Instead, florists would typically replace them with similar-looking alternatives that are nontoxic and more durable.
“I was always going to use oriental lilies, but I just love the look of these,” Mcglinn stated, indicating her openness to other floral recommendations in light of the incident. Following this scare, she cautioned others to take the time to research any flowers before deciding to pick them. In a light-hearted showcase, she urged her followers to view the situation as a reminder to “google flowers before randomly picking them.”
As her wedding day approaches, set for September 14 in Tuscany, Italy, Mcglinn seems to have moved past the flower debacle. Her experience serves as a reminder of the importance of being aware of the natural world, particularly when it comes to plants that may appear beautiful but can pose significant health risks.