Plants that are Toxic to People and Pets
Children and pets often find plants appealing and may eat the leaves. Some plants are completely safe but some are poisonous if swallowed.
What symptoms can occur if a poisonous plant is swallowed?
Symptoms range from mild stomachache, skin rash, or swelling of the mouth and throat and progress to cause damage to organs. Check with the poison control center or a local florist to make sure the plants in your home are safe.
What can I do to prevent plant poisonings?
See You Can Prevent Plant Poisonings (PDF)
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- Keep plants up high and out of reach.
- Label all plants by name.
- Check with the poison control center or local florist before buying plants.
- Never eat wild mushrooms, berries or plants from the outdoors.
- Never chew on jewelry made from beans or seeds.
- Keep the poison control center telephone number (1-800-222-1222) on all telephones.
- Call the poison control center after any plant exposure.
Call anytime if you have a question:
(212) POISONS (764-7667) or 1-800-222-1222
See the ASPCA's guide, with pictures, to plants
which are toxic to cats and dogs.
Which plants are poisonous to people?
- • Anemone
- • Angel Trumpet Tree
- • Apricot Kernels
- • Arrowhead
- • Azaleas
- • Betel Nut Palm
- • Bittersweet
- • Buckeye
- • Buttercups
- • Caladium
- • Calla Lily
- • Castor Bean
- • Cherries-Wild
- • Crocus, Autumn
- • Daffodil
- • Daphne
- • Delphinium
- • Devil's Ivy
- • Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
- • Elderberry
- • Elephant Ear
- • English Ivy
- • Four O'clock
- • Foxglove
- • Holly Berries
- • Horsetail Reed
- • Hyacinth
- • Hydrangea
- • Iris
- • Ivy
- • Jack In The Pulpit
- • Jequirity Bean Or Pea
- • Jerusalem Cherry
- • Jessamine
- • Jimson Weed
- • Jonquil
- • Lantana Camara
- • Larkspur
- • Laurels
- • Lily Of The Valley
- • Lobelia
- • Mayapple
- • Mistletoe
- • Moonseed
- • Monkshood
- • Morning Glory
- • Mother In Law
- • Mushrooms
- • Narcissus
- • Nightshade
- • Oleander
- • Periwinkle
- • Peyote
- • Philodendron
- • Poison Hemlock
- • Poison Ivy
- • Poison Oak
- • Poppy
- • Pokeweed
- • Potato Sprouts
- • Primrose
- • Ranunculus
- • Rhododendron
- • Rhubarb Leaves
- • Rosary Pea
- • Tobacco
- • Tomato Vines
- • Tulip
- • Water Hemlock
- • Wisteria
- • Yew
Which Plants Are Non-Poisonous to People?
The following plants are considered safe but any plant may cause an unexpected reaction in certain people:
- • Abelia
- • African Daisy
- • African Palm
- • African Violet
- • Airplane Plant
- • Aluminum Plant
- • Aralia
- • Asparagus Fern
- • Aspidistra
- • Aster
- • Baby's Breath
- • Bachelor Buttons
- • Bamboo
- • Begonia
- • Birds Nest Fern
- • Blood Leaf Plant
- • Boston Ferns
- • Bougainvillea
- • Cactus-Certain Varieties
- • California Holly
- • California Poppy
- • Camellia
- • Christmas Cactus
- • Coleus Species
- • Corn Plant
- • Crab Apples
- • Creeping Charlie
- • Creeping Jennie, Moneywort, Lysima
- • Dahlia
- • Daisies
- • Dandelion
- • Dogwood
- • Dracaenay
- • Echeveria
- • Eucalyptus
- • Eugenia
- • Gardenia
- • Grape Ivy
- • Hens & Chicks
- • Hoya
- • Jade Plant
- • Lily (Day, Easter, Or Tiger)
- • Lipstick Plant
- • Magnolia
- • Marigold
- • Monkey Plant
- • Norfolk Island Pine
- • Peperomia
- • Petunia
- • Prayer Plant
- • Purple Passion
- • Pyrocantha
- • Rose
- • Sansevieria
- • Schefflera
- • Sensitive Plant
- • Spider Plant
- • Swedish Ivy
- • Wandering Jew
- • Weeping Fig
- • Weeping Willow
- • Wild Onion
- • Zebra Plant
