Plants and Poisons
Prevent Plant Poisonings
- Teach your children to never put leaves, stems, bark, seeds, nuts or berries from any plant into their mouths.
- Keep poisonous house plants out of reach of young children.
- Label all plants.
- Check with the Poison Control Center or florist before buying plants.
- Never chew on jewlery made from beads or seeds.
Remember that any plant may cause unexpected reactions in certain individuals. Always check with the Poison Control Center or your physician if a plant has been ingested.
It is important that you know the names of all plants in your home and the outside grounds; because the emergency personnel cannot accurately identify plants from a telephone description. If you do not know the name of a plant, have it identified at the nearest landscape and gardening center in your area.
The following information will help you identify plants which are poisonous. These lists offer the plants that are most commonly asked about.
Toxic
The following plants are considered poisonous. These plants contain a wide variety of poisons and symptoms may vary from a mild stomach ache, skin rash, swelling of the mouth and throat to involvement of the heart, kidneys or other organs.
NOTE: There are other plants that can be poisonous, but may not be on this list.
| Amaryllis |
Jimson Weed (Thorn Apple) |
| American Ivy |
Jonquil |
| Anemone |
Lantana Camara (Red Sage) |
| Angel Trumpet Tree |
Larkspur |
| Apricot-Kernels |
Laurels |
| Arrowhead |
Lily-Of-The-Valley |
| Avocado (leaves, stems, seads) |
Lobelia |
| Azaleas |
Marijuana |
| Baneberry |
Mayapple |
| Betel Nut Palm |
Mistletoe |
| Bittersweet |
Moonseed |
| Black Locust (bark, seeds) |
Monkshood |
| Box Thorn |
Morning Glory |
| Buckeye |
Mushroom - wild |
| Buttercups |
Narcissus |
| Caladium |
Night Jessamine |
| Calla Lily |
Nightshade |
| Castor Bean |
Oleander |
| Cherry pits - Wild & Cultivated |
Periwinkle |
| Crocus - Autumn |
Peony |
| Daffodil |
Peyote (mescal) |
| Daphne |
Philodendron |
| Delphinium |
Poison Hemlock |
| Devils Ivy |
Poison Ivy |
| Dicentra |
Poison Oak |
| Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) |
Poison Sumac |
| Elderberry |
Pokeweed |
| Elephant Ear |
Poppy (Calif. Poppy Excepted) |
| English Ivy |
Potato-Sprouts |
| Eucalyptus (dried) |
Primrose |
| Four O'Clock |
Ranunculus |
| Foxglove |
Rhododendron |
| Holly (berries, leaves) |
Rhubarb |
| Horsetail Reed |
Rosary Pea |
| Hyacinth |
Star-Of-Bethlehem |
| Hydrangea |
Sweet Pea (seeds) |
| Iris |
Tobacco |
| Ivy (Boston, English and others) |
Tomato-Vines |
| Jack-In-The-Pulpit |
Tulip |
| Jequirity Bean or Pea |
Water Hemlock |
| Jerusalem Cherry |
Wisteria |
| Jessamine (Jasmine) |
Yew |
Non-Toxic
The following plants are considered essentially non-toxic (safe, not poisonous). Symptoms from eating or handling these plants are unlikely, but any plant may cause an unexpected reaction in certain individuals.
| Abelia |
Grape Ivy |
| Abysynnian Sword Lily |
Hawaiian Ti |
| African Daisy |
Hedge Apples |
| African Palm |
Hens & Chicks |
| African Violet |
Honeysuckle |
| Airplane Plant |
Hoya |
| Aluminum Plant |
Jade Plant |
| Aralia |
Kalanchoe |
| Araucaria |
Lily (Day, Easter or Tiger) |
| Asparagus Fern (Dermatitis) |
Lipstick Plant |
| Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant) |
Magnolia |
| Aster |
Marigold |
| Baby's Tears |
Monkey Plant |
| Bachelor Buttons |
Mother in Law's Tongue |
| Bamboo |
Norfolk Island Pine |
| Begonia |
Parlor Palm |
| Birds Nest Fern |
Peacock Plant |
| Blood Leaf Plant |
Piggyback Plant |
| Boston Ferns |
Pink Polka Dot Plant |
| Bougainvillea |
Peperomia |
| Bridal Veil |
Petunia |
| Cactus (certain varieties) |
Prayer Plant |
| California Holly |
Purple Passion |
| California Poppy |
Pyrocantha |
| Camelia |
Rosary Vine * |
| Christmas Cactus |
Rosary Pearls * |
| Coleus Species |
Rose |
| Corn Plant |
Rubber Plant |
| Crab Apples |
Sanseveria |
| Creeping Charlie |
Scheffelera |
| Creeping Jennie, Moneywort, Lysima |
Sensitive Plant |
| Croton (House Variety) |
Snake Plant |
| Dahlia |
Spider Plant |
| Daisies |
String of Hearts |
| Dandelion |
Swedish Ivy |
| Dogwood |
Umbrella Plant |
| Donkey Tail |
Violets |
| Dracaena |
Wandering Jew |
| Echeveria |
Wax Plant |
| Emerald Ripple |
Weeping Fib |
| Eugenia |
Weeping Willow |
| Fiddleaf Fig |
Wild Onion |
| Gardenia |
Zebra Plant |
| * Should not be confused with the fatally toxic Rosary Pea |
For more information about Poison Control, call 212-POISONS (212-764-7667) or 800-222-1222.
August 2002
