Indoor and outdoor plants can add beauty and warmth in a home or garden. Children and pets often explore and experience new things by putting them in their mouths. Some plants can be harmful and make someone sick if they eat or touch them.
Each year poison centres get thousands of calls asking if certain plants are poisonous (toxic). Finding out about the plants you have in your home or garden can help keep your child safe.
Non-toxic plants are not poisonous if you eat them. They may still cause mild symptoms like skin problems, sore eyes,a sore mouth or upset stomach.
Plants that are not poisonous to humans can still hurt your pet. Call your veterinarian for more information.
Toxic plants can cause many symptoms like nausea and vomiting, and mouth irritation. Some toxic plants can cause heart problems, confusion or kidney damage if eaten. Skin contact with some toxic plants can cause severe skin reactions.
Any plant can be a choking risk for a child - even if it's not poisonous. Call 911 if your child is having trouble breathing. Some plants that aren't toxic can still cause unusual reactions. If someone eats a plant, call
PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 1-800-332-1414 (Alberta).
This list contains some of the most common indoor and outdoor plants.
Plants - Toxic (Poisonous)
- Amaryllis
- Angel's Trumpet
- Arrowhead vine
- Autumn Crocus
- Azalea
- Bittersweet
- Black Locust
- Boston Ivy
- Cactus
- Caladium
- Calla Lilly
- Castor Bean
- Chinese Lantern Plant
- Clematis
- Cotoneaster
- Crocus
- Croton
- Cyclamen
- Daffodil
- Daisy
- Delphinium
- Dieffenbachia
- Dumb Cane
- Elephant's Ear
- English Ivy
- Eucalyptus
- Euonymus
- Foxglove
- Gladiola
- Hemlock
- Holly
- Horse Chestnut
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Jack-in-the-pulpit
- Jequirity Bean
- Jerusalem Cherry
- Jimson weed
- Larkspur
- Lily of the valley
- Lobelia
- Lupine
- Marijuana
- Mayday tree
- Milkweed
- Mistletoe
- Monkshood
- Morning Glory
- Mother-in-law Plant
- Mother-in-law's Tongue
- Narcissus
- Nightshade
- Oleander
- Peace lily
- Peony
- Periwinkle (Vinca)
- Philodendron
- Poinsettia
- Poison Ivy
- Poison Oak
- Pokeweed
- Potato (all green parts)
- Pothos
- Rhododendron
- Rhubarb leaf
- Rosary Bean
- Snake Berry
- Snow on the Mountain
- Statice
- St. John's Wort
- Star of Bethlehem
- Tobacco
- Tomato (leaves & unripe fruit)
- Tulip
- Umbrella plant
- Umbrella tree
- Virginia Creeper
- Walnut (green shell)
- Water Hemlock
- Wisteria
- Yew
Plants - Non-Toxic (Not poisonous)
Plants with an Asterix (*) are more likely to irritate the skin
- African daisy
- African violet
- Aloe
- Aluminum plant
- Alyssum
- Aralia, False
- Arbutus
- Asparagus fern
- Aspidistra
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Aucuba japonica
- Baby's Breath*
- Baby's Tears
- Bachelors Buttons
- Bamboo
- Banana leaf
- Begonia
- Bird's nest fern
- Black-eyed Susan*
- Blood leaf plant
- Boston fern
- Bottlebrush
- Bougainvillea
- California poppy
- Camellia
- Caragana tree and pods
- Carnation
- Cast iron plant
- Chinese evergreen
- Christmas cactus
- Chrysanthemum
- Coleus
- Coral Bells
- Corn plant
- Cornflower
- Cosmos
- Crab apple
- Creeping Charlie
- Creeping Jenny
- Dahlia*
- Dandelion
- Daylily*
- Dogwood
- Donkey tail
- Dracaena
- Easter lily
- Echeveria
- Eugenia
- Evening Primrose
- False aralia
- Fern
- Ficus*
- Fig tree
- Freesia
- Fuchsia
- Gardenia*
- Geranium
- Gloxinia
- Grape Hyacinth
- Grape ivy
- Hawthorn
- Hens and Chicks
- Hibiscus*
- Hollyhock
- Honey Locust
- Honeysuckle
- Hoya
- Ice plant
- Impatiens
- Iron tree
- Jade plant
- Jasmine
- Johnny-jump-ups
- Joseph's coat
- Kalanchoe
- Lavender
- Lilac
- Lily (Day, Easter or Tiger)
- Lipstick plant
- Magnolia
- Maple tree
- Maranta
- Marigold*
- Moneywort
- Monkey plant
- Mountain ash
- Mulberry
- Nasturtium
- Norfolk Island pine
- Orchid
- Oregon grape
- Painted lady
- Palm
- Pansy Peony
- Peperomia
- Persian Violet
- Petunia
- Phlox
- Piggy-back plant
- Polka-dot Plant
- Poplar tree
- Portulaca
- Prayer plant
- Primrose*
- Purple Coneflower
- Purple passion
- Pussy willow
- Pyracantha
- Rose*
- Rosemary
- Rubber plant*
- Safflower
- Sage
- Salal
- Sansevieria
- Saskatoon berry
- Schefflera*
- Sensitive plant
- Siberian Pea Tree
- Snake plant
- Snapdragon
- Spider plant
- Spiraea
- Swedish ivy
- Sweet William
- Sweet Woodruff
- Viola
- Violet
- Wax plant
- Weeping Fig*
- Weigela
- Yucca
- Zebra plant
- Zinnia
Fruit Pits and Seeds
Some fruit pits and seeds are safe if they are swallowed whole. But if they are broken and chewed, they can be harmful. Always take out pits and seeds before giving fruits to your child - they can cause choking.
The seeds from the following fruits can be poisonous. If the seed eaten is not on the list, or you have any questions, call the poison centre to check:
- Apple
- Apricot
- Cherry
- Pear
- Peach
- Plum
What to do if you think someone has touched or eaten a poisonous plant.
Mouth
The biggest concern when a child puts any plant part in their mouth is choking. A piece of the plant can get stuck in their throat and make it hard to breathe.
- If you can see the plant, take it out. If you can’t, don’t stick your finger down the child’s throat to feel for it.
- Do not make the child throw up. It can hurt them.
- Look in the child's mouth for any irritation, swelling, and change in colour. Check if they are having trouble swallowing. If they are, get medical help right away.
- If the child can swallow, give half a glass of water or milk. Do not give them a drink if they are having trouble swallowing or are vomiting. Do not force them to drink.
- Don’t wait for symptoms to show before getting help.
- Call PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service)
1-800-332-1414 (Alberta).
Skin
Some plants can cause itching, blistering, or a rash when the plant or its sap touches your skin.
- Take off any clothing that touched the plant.
- Rinse the skin under running water for 15 minutes.
- Wash the skin gently with soap and water. Rinse again.
- Call
PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 1-800-332-1414 (Alberta).
Eyes
Your eyes may become sore and uncomfortable if you rub them after touching the plant or if a splash of plant sap gets in your eyes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water right away. The best way is to stand in the shower. Let the water run from the top of your head down your face. Keep rinsing for 15 minutes. If you don't have a shower, pour water gently from a bottle from about 5 cm to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) above the eye.
- Blink lots as you rinse. Don’t force your eyelids open.
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Call PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 1-800-332-1414 (Alberta).
