Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list
The bottom line
Some plants can be poisonous if you eat them. Others can hurt you if you get them on your skin. For some plants, all parts of the plant are poisonous. For others, only certain parts of the plant are harmful. The danger can range from mild irritation to severe illness or death. Check out our illustrated list of selected poisonous and non-poisonous plants.
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The full story
Some plants can be poisonous if you eat them. Others can hurt you if you get them on your skin. For some plants, all parts of the plant are poisonous. For others, only certain parts of the plant are harmful. The danger can range from mild irritation to severe illness or death.
Even non-poisonous plants can cause choking if someone tries to eat them. Every situation is different; these lists are just a guide.
If someone eats a poisonous plant, use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool to get expert help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
Find out the names of your plants. Expert help depends on accurate plant identification.
Keep indoor plants where children can’t reach them.
Watch young children carefully when they play outdoors.
Teach children always to ask an adult before eating or drinking anything.
When camping or picnicking - only eat wild plants if you know FOR CERTAIN what they are. People have died after mistaking hemlock for wild carrots.
The cards below is an illustrated list of selected plants.
The cards below is an illustrated list of selected plants. The information divided into 3 sections:
If you have plants that aren't on the list, use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool to simulate an ingestion (check "this is not a real case") or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222
Poisonous plants
Apple (seeds, leaves)
Malus spp.
Apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines (seeds, leaves)
Prunus spp.
Autumn crocus
Colchicum autumnale
Azalea, rhododendron
Rhododendron
Caladium
Caladium
Castor bean
Ricinis communis
Daffodil
Narcissus
Deadly nightshade
Atropa belladonna
Dumbcane
Dieffenbachia
Elephant ear
Colocasia esculenta
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Holly
Ilex
Iris
Iris
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Jerusalem cherry
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Jimson weed
Datura stramonium
Lantana
Lantana camara
Lily-of-the-valley
Convallaria majalis
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Mistletoe
Viscum album
Monkshood
Aconitum napellus, other Aconitum spp.
Morning glory
Ipomoea
Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Nightshade
Solanum spp.
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Peace lily
Spathiphyllum
Pennyroyal
Mentha pulegium
Philodendron
Philodendron
Poison hemlock
Conium maculatum
Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac
Toxicodendron spp.
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Rhubarb (leaves)
Rheum spp.
Rosary pea
Abrus precatorius
Water hemlock
Cicuta maculata
Yew
Taxus
Non-poisonous plants
The cards below show a few non-poisonous plants. Familiarize yourself with these, along with the poisonous plants above.
African violet
Saintpaulia ionantha
Begonia
Begonia
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera bridgesii
Coleus
Coleus
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Dracaena
Dracaena
Forsythia
Forsythia
Impatiens
Impatiens
Inch plant
Tradescantia fluminesis
Jade
Crassula argentea
Petunia
Petunia
Poinsettia (may cause irritation)
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Rose
Rosa
Swedish ivy
Plectranthus spp.
Wild strawberry
Fragaria virginiensis
Mushrooms
Eating any amount of any wild mushroom could be very dangerous. Mushrooms may look alike but be very different. Call your poison center right away if anyone eats any part of a mushroom picked from a yard or the woods.
There are bold mushroom hunters and here are old mushroom hunters, but there are no old bold mushroom hunter. -- A wise person.
For More Info
References
Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Dart RC. 2010 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 28th annual report. Clinical Toxicology. 2011;49:910-941.
Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2009 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 27th annual report. Clinical Toxicology. 2010;48:979-1178.
Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2008 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 26th annual report. Clinical Toxicology. 2009;47:911-1084.
Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Rumack BH, Dart RC. 2011 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 29th annual report. Clinical Toxicology. 2012;911-1164.
Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Bailey JE, Ford M. 2012 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 30th annual report. Clinical Toxicology. 2013;51:949–1229.
Palmer MP, Betz JM. Plants. In: Nelson LS, Lewin NA, Howland MA, Hoffman RS, Goldfrank LR, Flomenbaum. Goldfrank’s toxicologic emergencies, 9th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2011. p. 1537-1560.
USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database [Accessed 15 June 2014] National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
