KNOW YOUR PLANTS!
CONTENTS
•
Introduction
•
What
to do for a plant poisoning
NON-TOXIC
PLANTS
•
Non-toxic plant information (including information about using tables to identify
plants dangerous to pets)
•
Table 1. Non toxic plant list (alphabetical using common names)
•
Table 2. Non toxic plant list (alphabetical using Latin or scientific names)
TOXIC
PLANTS
•
Introduction
•
How to use this toxic plant list
•
Toxic plant rating guide
•
What to do for a plant poisoning
•
Table 3. Toxic plant list (alphabetical using common names)
•
Table 4. Toxic plant list (alphabetical using Latin or scientific names)
•
References
Introduction
Plants are a major cause of poisoning in children under the age of 6 years. Nationally,
almost 8 out of 10 plant ingestions occur in young children. But children are not the only
victims of plant poisoning—adults, pets and farm animals can also be exposed to plants.
To prevent accidents, be aware of the potential dangers of plants.
The common names of plants can refer to several different species. Some may be safe
and some may be dangerous. It is important to know which species you have and to
check both the non-toxic plant list as well as the toxic plant list to make sure the plant
you have is safe.
Each situation is unique. Reactions to plants can depend on factors such as the age and
size of the patient, health factors such as allergies and the amount of the exposure.
Always call the poison center for up-to-the-minute treatment advice.
It is essential to know the names of the plants in your house and in your yard. Keep the
name tags that come with new plants attached for future identification. If your child is
being cared for at a relative’s house or daycare, it is important to know if they have
dangerous plants to which your child could be exposed.
However, you must have a name of the plant (either the common name or the Latin
name) to get the most reliable specific information. Poison center staff cannot identify
plants over the phone from the description of the plant. There are over 1000,000 species
of plants. A call to the poison center about an unknown plant described as having big
shiny green leaves is not enough information to know what the plant is. If you do not
know the name of the plant, take the plant or a part of the plant with leaves, berries or
flowers to a reputable plant nursery for a positive identification. Try to get the common
name and the Latin scientific name.
Then call the California Poison Control System at
1-800-222-1222 for more help.
This is a guide to safe plants but it should not be used as a substitute for calling the
poison center if a person or an animal has eaten a plant.
The California Poison Control
System is available 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-222-1222. If you are not in
California, call 1-800-222-1222 to be connected to your nearest poison control center.
WHAT TO DO FOR A PLANT POISONING
•
Do NOT induce vomiting.
•
Remove any plant parts from the mouth or hands.
•
Wash around the mouth and hands and give a few sips of water.
•
Check for any irritation of the skin, mouth or tongue.
•
Call the California Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222
•
Even if you are not sure, call the poison center for help. It will not be as waste of
time.
•
Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Treatment will be more difficult once
symptoms have developed.
•
If you are advised to go to the hospital, take the plant or part of the plant with you.
NON-TOXIC PLANTS
The plants in this list are considered to be safe to humans. This list is in two parts. The
first list is alphabetical by common name and the second list
is alphabetical by Latin or
scientific name.
Keep in mind that even non-toxic plants can cause vomiting in humans and animals. Also
children can choke on a plant piece and have gagging or choking.
Some plants that are not a problem to humans can be a problem for animals. The plant
names that are listed in
bold typeface are known to be dangerous to animals (dogs and
cats). Because dogs, especially, will eat large amounts, it is important to keep pets and
these plants apart.
Table 1. – Nontoxic Plants by Common Name
A
Common name
Latin or scientific name
Abelia
Abelia spp
Abutilon hemp
Abutilon theophrasti
Acacia
Albizia julibrisson
Acanthus
Acanthus spp
African daisy
Dimorphotheca pluvialis
African daisy
Gerbera jamesonii
African iris
Dietes spp
African violet
Saintpaulia ionantha
Aglaonema
Aglaonema spp
Air plant
Kalanchoe pinnata
Ajuga
Ajuga remota or Ajuga reptans
Albizia
Albizia
Alder, black
Viburnum spp
Alpine goldflower or Alpine
sun
flower
Hymenoxys grandiflora
Althea
Hibiscus spp
Aluminum plant
Pilea cadierei
Alumroot
Heuchera sanguinea
Alyssum
Alyssum spp
Alyssum, sweet
Lobularia maritima
American chestnut
Castanea spp
American olive
Osmanthus americanus
American sweet gum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Amylum
Maranta spp
Angel wing begonia
Begonia coccinea
Angel’s tears
Soleirolia soleirolii
Anise
Myrrhis odorata
Anise root
Osmorhiza longistylis
Aphelandra
Aphelandra spp
Aralia
Dizygotheca elegantissima
Arbutus
Arbutus unedo
Areca palm
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Aregelia
Neoragelia spp
Arrowroot
Maranta spp
Artillery plant
Pilea spp
Artist's acanthus
Acanthus spp
Ash, mountain
Sorbus spp
Asparagus fern
Asparagus densiflorus cv sprengeri
Asparagus fern
Asparagus setaceus
Aspen
Populus spp
Aspidistra
Aspidistra spp
Broom palm
Coccothrinax argentea
Buddleia
Buddleia davidii
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Burro’s tail
Sedum morganianum
Busy Lizzy
Impatients spp
Butterfly bush
Buddleia davidii
Butterfly flower
Schizanthus spp
Butterfly ginger
Hedychium coronarium
Butterfly iris
Spuria spp
Butterfly lily
Hedychium coronarium
Butterfly palm
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Butterfly pea
Centrosema virginianum
Button fern
Pellaea rotundifolia
Buttons
on a string
Crassula rupestris
Buzy Lizzie
Impatiens spp
C
Common name
Latin or scientific name
Cabbage kale
Brassica oleracea
Cabbage tree
Cordyline australis
Cactus (except for thorns)
Cactaceae
Calathea
Calathea spp
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
California bayberry
Myrica californica
California bluebell
Phacelia sericea
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica
California wax myrtle
Myrica californica
Callistemon
Callistemon spp
Camellia
Camellia japonica
Camellia
Thea japonica
Campanula
Campanula spp
Campion
Silene acaulis
Campion, moss or mossy
Silene acualis
Canary date palm
Phoenix canariensis
Candle plant
Plectranthus oetendahlii
Candleberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Cane apple
Arbutus unedo
Chinese holly
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Chinese tulip tree
Liriodendron chinense
Chocolate soldier
Episcia cupreata
Chokeberry
Aronia spp
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera bridgesii
Christmas dagger fern
Polystichum spp
Christmas flower
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Christmas kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Christmas star
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Cinderella slippers
Sinningia pusilla
Cinquefoil
Potentilla spp
Clarkia
Clarkia spp
Cleome
Cleome spp
Clianthus
Clianthus spp
Climbing begonia
Cissus discolor
Cloche
Campanula spp
Clustered wax flower
Stephanotis floribunda
Cobra lily or Cobra plant
Darlingtonia californica
Cockscomb
Celosia spp
Coleus
Coleus spp
Columbine
Aquilegia spp
Column of pearls
Haworthia chalwinii
Common balm
Melissa offinalis
Common myrtle
Myrtus communis
Compass flower
Hymenoxys grandiflora
Cone flower, purple
Rudbeckia purpurea
Coneflower
Echinacea spp
Coral beads
Sedum stahlii
Coral bells
Heuchera sanguinea
Coral bells
Kalanchoe uniflora
Coral berry
Ardisia spp
Coral vine
Antigonon leptopus
Cordyline
Cordyline spp
Coreopsis
Coreopsis californica
Corn lily
Clintonia borealis
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Cornplant
Dracaena fragrans
Cornstalk plant
Dracaena fragrans
Cosmos
Cosmos spp
Cottongum tree
Nyssa aquatica
Cottonwood
Populus spp
Coxcomb
Celosia spp
Crape myrtle or crepe myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Crassula
Crassula spp
Crataegus
Crataegus spp
Creeping charlie
Pilea nummulariifolia
Creeping charlie
Plectranthus australis
Creeping fig
Ficus spp
Creeping gloxinia
Maurandia spp
Creeping Jenny or Creeping Joan
Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping nettle
Soleirolia soleirolii
Creeping zinnia
Sanvitalia spp
Crimson cup
Aregelia spp
Crimson cup
Neoregelia spp
Crocus,
spring blooming ONLY
Crocus spp
Crossandra
Crossandra spp
Crotolaria
Crotolaria ramosissima
Cruel plant
Cynanchum spp
Cup and saucer plant
Gilia spp
Cup-and-saucer vine
Cobaeae scandens
Curiosity plant
Tolmiea menziesii
Cushion pink
Silene acualis
D
Common name
Latin or scientific name
Dagger plant
Yucca spp
Dahlia
Dahlia spp
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Daphne, October
Sedum sieboldii
Day lily
Hermocallis spp
Deer's tongue
Liatris spp
Dipper gourd
Lagenaria siceraria
Dogwood, flowering
Cornus florida
Donkey’s-tail
Sedum morganianum
Double rose of china
Hibiscus spp
Dracaena
Cordyline spp
Dracaena
Dracaena spp
Dracaena queen
Dracaena goldieana
Dracaena, blue
Cordyline spp
Dracaena, blue
Dracaena spp
Dracaena, fountain
Cordyline spp
Dracaena, giant
Cordyline spp
Dracaena, giant
Dracaena australis
Dracaena, lance
Pleomele thaliodes
Dracaena, Malaysian
Pleomele reflexa
Dracaena, striped
Dracaena deremensis
Dragon lily, painted
Dracaena fragrans
Dragon tree
Dracaena draco
Dusty miller
Lynchnis coronaria
Dusty miller
Senecio cineraria
Dutch crocus, spring blooming ONLY
Crocus spp
Dwarf palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Dwarf royal palm
Veitchia merrillii
Dwarf schefflera
Schefflera arboricola
E
Common name
Latin or scientific name
Easter flower
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Easter lily
Lilium longiflorum
Echeveria
Echeveria spp
Echinacea
Echinacea spp
Elephant’s ear
Bergenia cordifolia
Elephant’s ear
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Elephant’s ear fern
Platycerium angolense
Elephant’s foot
Dioscorea elephantipes
Elephant's ear
Saxifraga cordifolia
Elk's horn
Platycerium spp
Emerald feather or Emerald fern
Asparagus densiflorus cv sprengeri
English bluebell
Endymion non-scriptus
English lavender
Lavandula spp
Escallonia
Escallonia spp