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Poisonous and Irritant Plants

Some plants contain toxins that can either be poisonous to humans or cause irritations - below is a list of some of these and their likely effects.

This list is by no means complete but, hopefully, will give you an idea of common effects.

Plant

Poisonous [1]

Irritant [2]

Aconitum napellus (monkshood)

* all parts

 

Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut)

all parts

 

Agrostemma githago (corn cockle)

seed

 

Arum maculate (lords and ladies, cuckoo pint)

all parts

 

Aucuba japonica (spotted laurel)

all parts

 

Caladium (angel wings, eiephant's ear)

 

sap

Chrysanthemum

 

leaves

Clematis vitalba (old man's beard)

all parts

sap

Codiaeum (croton, Joseph's coat)

 

yes

Colchicum

* all parts

 

Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)

* all parts

 

Daphne mezereum (mezereon, daphne)

* all parts

yes

Dicentra spectabilis (bleeding heart)

all parts

 

Dieffenbachia (leopard lily, dumb cane)

all parts

yes

Digitalis (foxglove)

all parts

 

Euonymus europaeus (spindle)

* all parts

 

Euphorbia (all hardy species, spurge)

all parts

sap

Euphorbia milii (syn E. splendens,crown of thorns)

all parts

sap

Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)

all parts

sap

Fraxinus excelsior (ash)

all parts

sap

Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop)

all parts

 

Gloriosa superba (glory lily)

all parts

 

Hedera helix (ivy)

all parts

yes

Helleborus species (Christmas rose,  Lenten rose)

all parts

yes

Hippeastrum (amaryllis)

all parts

 

Hyacinthus (hyacinth)

all parts

bulb

Hyacinthus nonscriptus (bluebell)

all parts

bulb

Ibex aquifolium (holly)

berry

 

Ipomoea purpurea (morning glory)

seed

 

Kalmia latifolia (calico bush)

all parts

 

Laburnum (species)

* all parts (esp. bark & seed)

 

Lantana camara (lantana)

* all parts

 

Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea)

seed

 

Ligustrum (privet)

all parts

yes

Lonicera (honeysuckle)

 

yes

Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant)

all parts

yes

Narcissus (daffodil)

all parts

sap

Nerium oleander (oleander)

* all parts

 

Ornithogalum umbellatum (star of Bethlehem)

all parts

yes

Papaver somniferum (opium poppy)

all parts

 

Philodendron (sweetheart vine)

 

yes

Physalis alkekengi (Chinese lantern)

unripe berry

 

Primula obconica (poison primula)

 

yes

Prunus laurocerasus (cherry laurel) [3]

all parts

 

Rheum rhaponticum (rhubarb)

leaf

 

Ricinus communis (castor oil plant)

* all parts (esp. seed)

 

Ruta graveolens (rue)

 

yes

Sambucus nigra (elder) [4]

all parts [5]

 

Scindapsus aureus (devil's ivy)

 

yes

Sedum acre (biting stonecrop)

 

yes

Solanum capsicastrum (winter cherry)

all parts

 

Symphoricarpos albus (snowberry)

all parts

 

Taxus baccata (yew)

* seed, leaves

 

Thuja occidentalis (white cedar)

all parts

yes

Tulipa (tulip)

all parts

yes

Veratrum nigrum species (false hellebore)

* all parts

 

Footnotes

[1] *=plants most likely to cause serious harm even when ingested in small quantities. Seek medical attention immediately if poisoning with these plants is suspected

[2] These plants are all known to cause irritant or common allergic reactions. It is possible to develop allergies to any plants. Plants not in the Table which can also cause allergic reactions are pelargoniums, runner beans, Rhus, strawberries, and tomatoes

[3] Other laurels such as Prunus lusitanica contain cyanide compounds but there are no recorded cases of poisoning in humans

[4] Other species of Sambucus contain the same toxins

[5] The toxins in flowers and fruits are broken down by heat or in winemaking

 

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