Poisonous House Plants

Welcome to Poisonous House Plants!

House plants are the leading cause of poisoning in children and pets. It is a good idea to know which plants to avoid if you have young children or pets in your house. If you do keep any of these plants in your house make sure they are kept out of reach of young fingers or pets that nibble. This includes dead leaves that fall to the floor.

If you suspect that your child or pet has been poisoned by a house plant then seek medical attention immediately. Have the necessary information such as what plant was ingested and if possible how much was eaten.

Please remember, this list is not all inclusive so if you add plants to your indoor garden that is not on this list it’s wise to treat it like a potential threat to your little ones and pets.

Teacher: [threelade]

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Brief Outline:

1. Aloe Vera, Burn plant
2. Angels' wings 
3. Dumbcane, Giant Dumbcane, Spotted Dumbcane, Leopard Lily
4. Poinsettia 
5. Common English Ivy  
6. Swiss-cheese plant, Split-leaf philodendron
7. P. cordatum - Heart leaf philodendron
P. scandens - Heart leaf philodendron (Very similar in appearance to P. cordatum.)
P. selloum - Lace tree philodendron
8. Flamingo lily, Painter's Palette
9. Angel's trumpet, Thorn apple
10. Hydrangea
11. Jerusalem Cherry
12. Croton
13. Crown-of-thorns, Christ's Crown, The Christ"s Thorn
14. Devil's Backbone, Mother-of-Thousands



Common name    Aloe Vera, Burn plant  
Botanical name  Aloe barbadensis
Poisonous parts  Latex (juices)
Toxins      Aloe-emodin
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/aloe_b.jpg

Notes
As with Aloe arborescens, ingestion of the latex can cause a cathartic (purging) reaction by irritating the large intestine. Aloe is a popular house plant due to its reputation as a healing plant for burns, cuts and other skin problems but contact dermatitis can occur in sensitive individuals. If you use Aloe, you should cut away the skin and inner layer of yellow juice leaving only the actual gel. The yellow juice, especially prominent in older plants, is the primary irritant in the cases of contact dermatitis. You should test a small area of skin, such as the inner forearm, for a reaction before more general use. Aloe is also an air purification plant



Common names         Angels' wings      
Botanical name        Caladium x hortulanum
Poisonous parts       All parts      
Toxins            Calcium oxalate
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/caladium.jpg

Notes
Pictured is one of the pink cultivars commonly sold in garden centers. Ingestion can cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat and may also be an irritant to the G.I. tract. Children as well as cats, dogs and other family pets that may nibble on the foliage are all at risk.



Common names   Dumbcane, Giant Dumbcane, Spotted Dumbcane, Leopard Lily
Botanical name   Dieffenbachia sp.            
Poisonous parts   All parts
Toxins       Calcium oxalate
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/dieff.jpg

Notes
The distinctive leaf pattern of the very popular Dieffenbachia sp. is seen in many homes. Painful and immediate swelling of the mouth and throat occurs after chewing on dumbcane. Speech impediment can occur, sometimes lasting for several days. Avoid eye contact with the juices which can result in intense pain and swelling. This plant is useful for purifying our indoor air.



Common names     Poinsettia      
Botanical name    Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poisonous parts   Latex, leaves and stems
Toxins        unknown
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/poinsettia.jpg

Notes
NO LONGER CLASSIFIED AS EXTREMELY TOXIC. Poinsettias are a nursery plant very popular at Christmas time. It's reputation as a poisonous plant came from the case of a child in Hawaii who ingested a single leaf. This report was based on hearsay and subsequent studies have not shown the plant to be severely toxic. Reactions for humans range from dermatitis to nausea and vomiting.



Common names   Common English Ivy    
Botanical name       Hedera helix
Poisonous parts    Leaves.        
Toxins         didehydrofalcarinol, falcarinol, hederasaponins
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/e_ivy.jpg

Notes
The photograph is one of the variegated cultivars of English Ivy. This vine is grown both as an indoor and outdoor ornamental and have caused poisoning in cattle, dogs, sheep, and humans. Symptoms of ingestion are difficulty in breathing, convulsions, vomiting, paralysis and coma. Dermatitis is rare but can be severe with weeping blisters which respond slowly to treatment. The berries are bitter so it's unlikely children will consume them in large quantities.This plant is also useful as an air purifier  



Common names      Swiss-cheese plant, Split-leaf philodendron 
Botanical name  Monstera deliciosa
Poisonous parts The entire plant
Toxins      Calcium oxalate
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/monstera.jpg

Notes
Swiss-cheese plant is a popular container plant because of its ability to withstand the wide range of conditions encountered in the home.
The leaves can cause problems if chewed by humans or family pets. Experimental rats and mice died after they were fed plant extracts. General symptoms of poisoning are immediate and painful with aphonia (loss of voice), blistering, hoarseness, irritation of the mouth. Urticaria (an allergic disorder characterized by raised edematous (watery swelling) patches of skin) accompanied by intense itching can occur in sensitive individuals who ingest the ripened fruit.



Common names
P. cordatum - Heart leaf philodendron
P. scandens - Heart leaf philodendron (Very similar in appearance to P. cordatum.)
P. selloum - Lace tree philodendron
Botanical name Philodendron sp.                  
Poisonous parts   Leaves, juices
Toxins       Calcium oxalate
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/p_cordatum.jpg
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/selloum.jpg

Notes
Philodendrons are an popular container plant that can cause poisoning in humans and pets because of the oxalates they contain. General symptoms of poisoning are: erythema (reddening and inflammation of the skin), itchiness. Philodendrons were among the best house plants in N.A.S.A.'s tests for removing toxins from the air.



Common names    Flamingo lily, Painter's Palette
Botanical name   Anthurium andraeanum
Poisonous parts    All parts
Toxins       Calcium oxalate
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/flamingo.jpg

Notes
Anthuriums are a blooming plant that have tiny flowers crowded in a spadix that is subtended by a spathe (red, bract like leaf).

Ingestion usually does not occur because chewing quickly causes painful irritation of the mouth and throat. General symptoms of poisoning are blistering, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), hoarseness.



Common names     Angel's trumpet, Thorn apple
Botanical name   Datura innoxia syn. Brugsmania sp.
Poisonous parts   all parts
Toxins    Atropine, hyoscine, and hyoscyamine
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/brugsmania5a.jpg
Notes

Angel's trumpet contains toxic alkaloids that have caused poisoning and death in humans and animals. Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) is mentioned most often and is also known as 'loco weed' because of it's effect on cattle. This plant is grown because of its spectacular tubular flowers, up to 6", and may also be known as 'thorn apple' because of its spiny fruit. General symptoms of poisoning are agitation, choreiform (spasmodic) movement, coma, drowsiness, hallucination, elevated temperature



Common names  Hydrangea
Botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla
Poisonous parts Leaves and buds
Toxins     Hydragin
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/hydrangea2.jpg

Notes
Poisoning from eating the flower buds has occurred. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, labored breathing, lethargy and coma. Sensitive individuals may develop contact dermatitis from handling the plants.



Common names  Jerusalem Cherry
Botanical name  Solanum pseudocapsicum
Poisonous parts Immature and mature fruit, leaves
Toxins  Solanocapsine
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/j_cherry.jpg

Notes
Jerusalem-cherry is typically produced as a nursery plant and brought home for its colorful berries. Children or family pets that ingest moderate amounts of leaf or berry material may experience abdominal pains, gastroenteritis and vomiting.



Common names Croton
Botanical name Codiaeum variegatum
Poisonous parts Bark, roots, latex, leaves
Toxins 5-deoxyingenol
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/croton.jpg

Notes
This exotic plant is grown for it's colorful foliage. Chewing the bark and roots is said to cause burning of the mouth. The latex has caused eczema in some gardeners after repeated exposure.



Common namesCrown-of-thorns, Christ's Crown, The Christ"s Thorn
Botanical name Euphorbia milii
Poisonous parts Sap
Toxins 5-deoxyingenol
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/image/crown-of-thorns.jpg

Notes
The common name of this plant would lead one to believe it is the 'crown' Jesus wore while he carried his torture stake to his crucifixion. However, native to Madagascar, this plant was unknown in Christ's time. Debate continues but many feel Paliurus spina-christi is a more likely candidate.

The "Crown-of-thorns" is a trailing or climbing spiny shrub with showy flower clusters and red, petal like bracts.

This plant contains caustic and irritant chemicals in the latex. Avoid contact to the skin and eyes. General symptoms of ingestion are: abdominal pains, blistering/irritation of the mouth/throat and vomiting.



Common names Devil's Backbone, Mother-of-Thousands
Botanical name  Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Poisonous parts Leaves, stems
Toxins Leaves, stems
http://succulent.com.ne.kr/s_photo/Crassulaceae/Kalanchoe_daigremontiana_11.jpg

Notes
The young plantlets which grow along the leaf edges are easily dislodged to become new plants and can be found in profusion around the base of the adult plant. Caution should be taken with this plant since children and family pets such as dogs, cats, and rabbits can have easy access to these plantlets. 

Devil's-backbone contains a cardiac glycoside that has caused experimental toxicity and death in chicks and mice. Several other species of Kalanchoe may be found growing as houseplants in Canada & the USA. Tests have shown that some of them may also contain toxic compounds and so caution should be exercised with all Kalanchoe species.



Pictures, descriptions and notes taken from
http://blankees.com/house/plants/poisonous.htm
Copyright © 1997-2005 by RAD Enterprises


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