Plant Safety

Plants are beautiful, especially those with flowery shows in spring or summer. But many plants are poisonous to children and pets.

When planning, or purchasing plants for landscaping, please print this list and bring it with you to the local nursery for easy reference. If you are unfamiliar with any plants in your yard, bring a large enough piece of the plant to a reputable nursery for accurate identification. Keep a list of all the indoor and outdoor plants in your home, with correct spelling of common and botanical names.

This page contains a list of plants that are toxic to humans. Many of those same plants are toxic to your housepets as well. Please keep in mind the fact that some plants that are relatively safe for humans can be deadly for animals. I hope to have that list added here soon.

Remember that many types of mushrooms are toxic. Some of the deadliest plants in the world are mushrooms. Therefore, ALL mushrooms should be considered toxic until positively identified as safe. If there is a mushroom eaten by any person, or pet, call the Poison Control Center, doctor's office, 911 or other local emergency facility IMMEDIATELY for advice. If possible, bring a sample of the eaten mushroom to your physician so that any poisoning can be treated most effectively.

The alphabetical list includes of the most common plants. Following each common name of the plant will be its botanical name, and then the category it falls into. Please use the reference below to determine the category of each plant.

Non-Toxic: Considered non-poisonous and not dangerous. Illness is very unlikely.
Initial treatment: Dilute with fluids (water or milk).

Oxalates: These plants contain oxalate salts. Oxalate salts are irritating substances contained in the sap of these plants. Contact with this sap will likely cause burning, swelling and pain.
Initial Treatment: If contacted with skin, wash with soap and water. If ingested, rinse mouth with water. Call the poison control center, doctor's office, 911 or other local emergency facility for advice. Observe for problems with swallowing, breathing, or increased drooling, irritation or swelling of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Toxic or Potentially Toxic: These plants need to be handled with caution. They may contain any number of substances that can cause ill effects to various organs. Depending on the plant, effects can range from mild irritation to severe organ damage.
Initial Treatment: Rince mouth and dilute with fluid. Call the poison control center, doctor's office, 911 or other local emergency facility immediately for advice.
Dermatitis: Sap may produce a skin rash, itching, or other irritation.
Initial Treatment: Wash affected area with soap and warm water. If the irritation persists, contact physician. Be careful not to rub sap into eyes or other mucus membrane areas. If sap gets into any one of those areas, contact physician immediately.
Unknown: Little or incomplete information regarding these plants. However, some of these plants may potentially be toxic. Exercise great caution when choosing these plants. Remember that if little data is available on the toxic agents in these plants, your physician may not immediately know how to treat a child who has ingested it.
Initial Treatment: Rinse mouth and dilute with fluids. Call the poison control center, doctor's office, 911 or other local emergency facility immediately for advice.

Plant List

A
Abelia (Abelia grandiflora) 1
African Lily (Agapanthus africanus) 3, 4
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) 1
Agapanthus (Botanical name) 3, 4
Aloe (Aloe barbadensis) 3, 4
Aloe Vera (Botanical name) 3, 4
Alyssum (Botanical name) 1
Aralia, Japanese (Fatsia japonica) 1
Arrowhead Vine (Syngonuium pdophyllum) 2
Asparagus Fern (Asperogus setoceus plumosus) 1
Aster (Botanical name ) 1
Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) 3

B
Baby Tears (Helxine soleirolii) 1
Begonia (species) 2
Bird of Paradise (Strelizia reginea) 3
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) 1
Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exalta) 1
Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) 2
Bottle Brush (Callistemon species) 1
Bouganvilla (species) 1
Boxwood (Buxux sempervirens) 3, 4
Bridal Veil (Tradescantia "Bridal Veil") 1

C
Cactus (species) 4
Caladium (species) 2, 4
Calla Lily (Zantedeachia species) 2
Calla Lily (Begonia sempiforens) 1
Camelia (Thea japonica) 1
Candytuft (species) 4
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) 3
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) 2
Chrysanthemum (species) 1
China berry (Melia azedarach) 3
Coleus (species) 1
Corn Plant (Dracena fragrans) 1
Cracena (species) 1
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) 3
Creeping Charlie (Pilea nummularifolia) 1
Croton (Codiaeum) 1
Cyclamen (Botanical name) 3

D
Dafodil (narcissus) 3
Diathus (species) 3
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia amoena) 2
Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria) 1

E
Elephant's Ear (Senicio caladium) 2, 4
Elephant's Ear Fern (Platycerfum angloense) 1
Emerald Ripple (peperonia caperata) 1
Eugenia (species)1

F
Ficus Benjamina (Botanical name) 4
Fiddleleaf Fig (Ficus lyrala) 4
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) 3
Fuchsia (Botanical name) 1

G
Gardenia (species) 5
Geranium (Pelargonium species) 1
Grape Ivy (Cissue rhomiferia) 5

H
Heart Ivy (Hedera helix) 3, 4
Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) 3
Hen's Chicks (Echeueria imbricata) 1
Holly (Illex) 3
Hoya - Wax Plant (Hoya exotica) 1
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientaliz) 3, 4

I
Iceplant (Mesembryanathemum chilense) 1
Impatiens (species) 1
Ivy (Hedera helix) 3, 4

J
Jade Plant (Crassula argentea) 1
Jasmine (Jasminum officinals or grandiflorum) 1
Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) 3
Juniper (Juniperus species) 3, 4

K

L
Lavender 1
Lily of the Nile (agapanthus africanus) 3, 4
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria species ) 3
Lobelia (Botanical name) 3

M
Majexty (Philodendron histatum) 3
Marigold (Calendula officinalus) 1
Marigold (Tagetes species) 4
Marigold (Ecklonis species) 1
Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens) 3
Monkey Plant (Ruellia makoyana) 1
Mother-in-Law Plant (Caladium 2, 4
Mother-in-Law-Tongue (Sanserveria trifasciato) 5
Mother of Pearls (Graptopetalum paragueyanse) 1

N
Natal Plum (Carissa grandiflora) 1
Needlepoint Ivy (Hedera helix "needlepoint") 3, 4
Nephthytis (Syngonium pdodphyllum) 2
Nightshade (Solanium nigrum) 3

O
Oleander (Nerium oleander) 3

P
Painted Nettle (Coleus) 1
Palm (species) 1
Pamaps Grass (Cortaderia selloana) 1
Pansy (Viola tricolor) 5
Parlor Ivy (Philodendron cordatum) 3, 4
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea ekegans) 1
Peperomia (Peperomia caperata) 1
Periwinkle (Vinca species) 3
Petunia (Botanical name) 1
Philodendron (species) 2, 4
Phoenix Roebelenii (Botanical name) 1
Piggyback Begonia (Begonia hispida cucullifero) 1
Piggyback Plant (Tolmiea menziesil) 1
Pilea (Botanical name) 1
Pink Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes sanguinolenta) 1
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) 5
Ponytail Plant (Beaucamea recurvata) 1
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) 2, 4
Pot Mum (Chrysanthemum mortiforium) 5
Prayer Plant (Marantaleuconeura) 1
Purple Passion/ Purple Velvet (Gynura) 1
Pyrancanthra (Botanical name) 3

R
Rhododendron (species) 3
Rosary Bean (Abrus precatarius) 3
Rubber Tree (Ficus elasticus decora) 4

S
Schefflera (species) 2, 4
Sedum (Botanical name) 1
Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum masimum) 3, 4
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum species) 1
Spider Mum/Golden Lace (Chrysanthemum mortifolium) 3, 4
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) 1
Split Leaf Philodendron (Monsters deliciuso) 2
Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) 1
String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus or Senecio Herreinus) 3
Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis) 1
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) 5

U
Umbrella Plant (Eriognum umbrellatum) 1
Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) 2, 4

V
Velvet Plant (Gyuma aurantiaca) 1

W
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia albifora) 1
Wandering Jew - Red and White (Zebrina pendula) 1
Warnecki (Craceana deramensis) 1
Wax Plant (Hoya exotica) 1

Z
Zebra Plant (species) 1
Zinnia (Botanical name) 1

For further information, the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University has published a booklet called "Common Poisonous Plants". At last check, it was available for $1.00, upon request. Write to: Distribution Center ~~ 7 Research Park, ~~ Cornell University ~~ Ithaca, NY 14850

This information was made available by the Los Angeles Regional Drug and Poison Information Center LAC + USC Medical Center ~~ 1200 North State Street, Room 1107 ~~ Los Angeles, CA 90033
Disclaimer: The above information is intended to be used as general information ONLY. It is not intended to take the place of the advice, or treatment of a physician or other qualified medical personnel.

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Safety Tips