Poisonous House Plants
Poisonous House Plants can be found in many homes. Many are VERY commonly used. If poisoning is suspected, call an emergency number for humans, or for pets, call your veterinarian...immediately!
ALL
PLANTS LISTED BELOW are poisonous house plants and are toxic for both humans and pets alike.
- Some members of the Lily Family and Lily-Like Amaryllis groups are poisonous.
- The bulbs of Hyacinths, Narcissus, and Daffodil cause intensive digestive upset.
- Some Amaryllis, Crinum, and Oleander are particularly dangerous. A single bite can be a lethal dose.
- Oleander is common down south and is grown as a potted plant in the north. The flowers are showy and very fragrant. Its poisonous principle is similar to digitalis in its effect on the heart.
- Impatiens, Carnations, Coffee Bean plant, Crotons, Crown of Thorns, Cyclamen, Dracaena, Easter Lily, Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) and related house plants are also poisonous.
*Below is a list of poisonous house plants (toxic house plants) that are VERY commonly received as a gift or to find in ANY home!!
Poisonous House Plants List
Caladium bicolor
Common names:
Angel Wings
Caladium
Caladio
Cananga
Capotillo
Couer Saignant
Corazon de Cabrito
Heart-of-Jesus
Lagrimas de Maria
Mother-in-Law Plant
Paleta de Pintor
Description: Showy, variegated, heart-shaped
leaves. Color may vary from white
to orange or red depending on
species.
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious when
ingested.
Symptoms: Intense irritation of the lips,
mouth and throat.
Angel Wings
Caladium
Caladio
Cananga
Capotillo
Couer Saignant
Corazon de Cabrito
Heart-of-Jesus
Lagrimas de Maria
Mother-in-Law Plant
Paleta de Pintor
Description: Showy, variegated, heart-shaped
leaves. Color may vary from white
to orange or red depending on
species.
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious when
ingested.
Symptoms: Intense irritation of the lips,
mouth and throat.
Dieffenbachia species
Common Names:
Dumbcane
Camilichigue
Dumb Plant
Mother-in-Law's Tongue Plant
Description: Tall, erect plants with large
oblong leaves splotched with ivory
markings.
Toxic Part: Leaf
Symptoms: Chewing on the leaf produces
immediate intense pain followed by
swelling of the mouth.
Dumbcane
Camilichigue
Dumb Plant
Mother-in-Law's Tongue Plant
Description: Tall, erect plants with large
oblong leaves splotched with ivory
markings.
Toxic Part: Leaf
Symptoms: Chewing on the leaf produces
immediate intense pain followed by
swelling of the mouth.
Alocasia species
Common names:
Elephant's Ear
Cabeza de Burro
Malanga de Jardin
Malanga Cara de Chivo
Chine Ape
Papao-Apaka
Papao-Atolong
Taro
Description: Erect perennial with long stemmed,
spearhead-shaped leaves. Flowers
appear on a greenish stem.
Toxic Part: The leaves and stems are injurious.
Symptoms: Chewing of plant part causes a
painful burning sensation of the
lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Elephant's Ear
Cabeza de Burro
Malanga de Jardin
Malanga Cara de Chivo
Chine Ape
Papao-Apaka
Papao-Atolong
Taro
Description: Erect perennial with long stemmed,
spearhead-shaped leaves. Flowers
appear on a greenish stem.
Toxic Part: The leaves and stems are injurious.
Symptoms: Chewing of plant part causes a
painful burning sensation of the
lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Epipremnum aureum
Common Names:
Pothos
Amapalo Amarillo
Devil's Ivy
Golden Ceylon Creeper
Golden Hunter's Robe
Golden Pothos
Hunter's Robe
Ivy Arum
Malanga Trepadora
Solomon Island Ivy
Taro Vine
Variegated Philodendron
Description: Climbing vine with large heart-
shaped leaves that are usually
streaked with yellow.
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious.
Symptoms: Causes diarrhea upon ingestion.
Also causes dermatitis when
touched. Causes burning sensation
in mouth when eaten.
Pothos
Amapalo Amarillo
Devil's Ivy
Golden Ceylon Creeper
Golden Hunter's Robe
Golden Pothos
Hunter's Robe
Ivy Arum
Malanga Trepadora
Solomon Island Ivy
Taro Vine
Variegated Philodendron
Description: Climbing vine with large heart-
shaped leaves that are usually
streaked with yellow.
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious.
Symptoms: Causes diarrhea upon ingestion.
Also causes dermatitis when
touched. Causes burning sensation
in mouth when eaten.
Euphorbia species (E. lactea )
Common Names:
Candelabra Cactus
Description: Many-branched succulent, spiny
shrub or tree with milky sap and
wing-like spiny ridges.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes severe
irritation of the mouth, throat,
and skin; temporary blindness;
vomiting; diarrhea; and stomach
pain.
Candelabra Cactus
Description: Many-branched succulent, spiny
shrub or tree with milky sap and
wing-like spiny ridges.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes severe
irritation of the mouth, throat,
and skin; temporary blindness;
vomiting; diarrhea; and stomach
pain.
E. marginata
Common Names:
Snow-on-the-Mountain
Description: Tall annual herb with milky juice,
growing up to 3 feet in height.
Leaves are lance shaped and smooth,
bordered by conspicuous white
margins. Flowers are bordered with
a whorl of white petal-like leaves.
Fruit is 3-celled 3-lobed capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When touched, causes blistering of
the skin. When ingested, causes
severe irritation of the mouth,
throat, and stomach; nausea;
abdominal pain; fainting; and
diarrhea.
Snow-on-the-Mountain
Description: Tall annual herb with milky juice,
growing up to 3 feet in height.
Leaves are lance shaped and smooth,
bordered by conspicuous white
margins. Flowers are bordered with
a whorl of white petal-like leaves.
Fruit is 3-celled 3-lobed capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When touched, causes blistering of
the skin. When ingested, causes
severe irritation of the mouth,
throat, and stomach; nausea;
abdominal pain; fainting; and
diarrhea.
Cypripedium species
Common Names:
Orchid
Lady's Slipper
Description: Has lance-shaped leaves 2 to 6
inches long. Yellow-green flowers with
white pouches which may be blushed
with pink or spotted with purple.
Toxic Part: Bulbs
Symptoms: Contact Dermatitis
Orchid
Lady's Slipper
Description: Has lance-shaped leaves 2 to 6
inches long. Yellow-green flowers with
white pouches which may be blushed
with pink or spotted with purple.
Toxic Part: Bulbs
Symptoms: Contact Dermatitis
E. pulcherrima
Common Names:
Poinsettia
Christmas Flower
Christmas Star
Easter Flower
Description: Large green stem leaves and smaller
but showy red, pink, or yellow
leaves surrounding the flowers.
Fruit is a 3-celled, 3-lobed
capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When touched, causes irritant
dermatitis. If ingested, may cause
gastritis.
Poinsettia
Christmas Flower
Christmas Star
Easter Flower
Description: Large green stem leaves and smaller
but showy red, pink, or yellow
leaves surrounding the flowers.
Fruit is a 3-celled, 3-lobed
capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap.
Symptoms: When touched, causes irritant
dermatitis. If ingested, may cause
gastritis.
Philodendron species
Common Names:
Philodendron
Description: Climbing vines with aerial roots.
Leaves large and variable, the most
common being heart-shaped.
Toxic Part: Leaves
Symptoms: When ingested, causes painful burning
of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Contact dermatitis is common.
Philodendron
Description: Climbing vines with aerial roots.
Leaves large and variable, the most
common being heart-shaped.
Toxic Part: Leaves
Symptoms: When ingested, causes painful burning
of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Contact dermatitis is common.
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Common Names:
Jerusalem Cherry
Coral
Description: Mostly herbs or shrubs. Are often
spiny, hairy, or have stinging
hairs. Berries are black, orange,
yellow, or red.
Toxic Part: Entire plant, especially the
berries.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes gastric
irritation, scratchy feeling in the
throat, fever, and diarrhea.
Jerusalem Cherry
Coral
Description: Mostly herbs or shrubs. Are often
spiny, hairy, or have stinging
hairs. Berries are black, orange,
yellow, or red.
Toxic Part: Entire plant, especially the
berries.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes gastric
irritation, scratchy feeling in the
throat, fever, and diarrhea.
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Common Names:
Calla
Calla Lily
Lirio Cala
Description: Smooth-edged arrowhead-shaped
leaves which grow on long stalks.
Flower may be white or green.
Toxic Part: Leaves are injurious.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes intense
burning of the lips and mouth.
Also direct irritant dermatitis.
Calla
Calla Lily
Lirio Cala
Description: Smooth-edged arrowhead-shaped
leaves which grow on long stalks.
Flower may be white or green.
Toxic Part: Leaves are injurious.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes intense
burning of the lips and mouth.
Also direct irritant dermatitis.
There are many poisonous house plants existing. If there is ever any doubt...better to be safe than sorry. Isolate the suspected poisonous house plants so pets or children can't get to it....or remove it from the home entirely.
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