Poisonous plants - know more and be plant safe

Poisonous plants must be kept in areas where children and pets don't have access to them

Houseplants are an important aspect of decorating homes and offices, and a creative hobby for many. However, while most of them are safe, some can be harmful, particularly to small children and pets. A poisonous plant contains a chemical that can be irritate skin, cause an allergic reaction, make a person ill or even cause death. Some are much more toxic than others, and large quantities of some may be needed to cause harm, while a very small amount of others can cause serious problems.

It might not be necessary to eliminate poisonous plants if they are inaccessible to children and pets, but is important to teach children the danger of putting parts of plants into their mouths. Poisonous plants must be kept in areas where children and pets don't have access to them. If you aren't sure of the names of plants you have, there are many good houseplant books and our staff will be glad to help you. You can email us at:

If a child has eaten any part of a plant in the following list, call your local Poison Control Centre for help. A veterinarian should be contacted if it is suspected that a pet may have eaten a poisonous plant.

In Calgary, call the Poison Centre at 1-800-332-1414

Poisonous Annuals

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call your local poison centre immediately.

In Calgary, call the Poison Centre at 1-800-332-1414

Castor Bean (ricinus communis)

Highly toxic! Handling of seeds and foliage can cause itching rash; ingestion can cause burning in mouth and throat, abdominal pain, digestive problems, convulsions and death.

Flowering Tobacco (nicotiana alata)

Highly toxic! All parts can cause rapid heartbeat, weakness, blindness, digestive upset, abdominal pain and death.

Sweet Pea (lathyrus odoratus)

Ingestion of large amounts of seed can induce cramps, paralysis, and death.

Poisonous Perennials

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call you local poison centre immediately.

In Calgary, call the Poison Centre at 1-800-332-1414

Bleeding Heart (dicentra spectabilis)

Leaves and roots can cause loss of balance, weakness, breathing distress and convulsions.

Delphinium, Larkspur (delphinium spp.)

Very toxic! All parts can cause nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, paralysis and death.

Foxglove (digitalis purpurea)

Very toxic! All parts can cause nausea, abdominal pain, confusion, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, convulsions and death.

Gas Plant (dictamnus albus)

All parts, especially seed pods, can cause irregular reddish patches on skin, blistering and staining of skin lasting for several weeks.

Iris (iris spp.)

Leaves and rhizomes can cause nausea and digestive upset.

Lily-of-the-valley (convallaria majalis)

Very toxic! All parts can cause irregular heartbeat, nausea, circulatory collapse and death.

Lobelia (lobelia spp.)

All parts can cause digestive upset, weakness, tumors and coma.

Lupine (lupinus spp.)

All parts, especially seeds, can cause breathing problems, convulsions and death. It takes a large quantity over a brief period of time.

Monkshood (aconitum spp.)

All parts, especially roots and seeds, can cause anxiety, weakness, irregular heartbeat, speech and vision impairment and death if sufficient quantities are ingested.

Poppy (papaver spp.)

Very toxic! Eating unripe seeds can cause deep sleep, dizziness, delerium, slow breathing and death. Ripe poppy seeds are harmless. All other parts can cause nausea, digestive upset, stomach pain.

Sweet Pea (lathyrus odoratus)

Ingestion of large amounts of seed can induce cramps, paralysis, and death.

Poisonous Trees

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call your local poison centre immediately.

Apple (malus spp.)

Foliage and seeds can cause abdominal pain, nausea, digestive upset and death.

Poisonous Shrubs

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call your local poison centre immediately.

In Calgary, call the Poison Centre at 1-800-332-1414.

Bittersweet (celastrus scandens)

Leaves, roots and seeds can cause digestive upset, weakness, convulsions and coma.

Chestnut (aesculus glabra)

All parts can cause digestive upset, lack of body control, stupor, paralysis and death.

Clematis (clematis spp.)

Very toxic! All parts can cause digestive upset, depression and death.

Daphne (daphne spp.)

Highly toxic! All parts can cause blisters on skin, burning of mouth and throat, stupor, weakness, digestive upset, coma and death.

Hydrangea (hydrangea spp.)

Very toxic! All parts can cause abdominal problems, nausea, and death.

Poisonous House Plants

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call your local poison centre immediately. In Calgary, call the Poison Centre at 1-800-332-1414

Azalea (rhodendron occidentale)

All parts can cause nausea, breathing problems and digestive upset. It takes leaves of several plants to cause serious harm.

Bird of Paradise (streliitzia reginae)

Ingesting seeds in capsules can cause digestive problems and drowsiness.

Caladium (caladium hortulanum)

All parts can cause irritation to the throat, mouth and stomach.

Calla Lily (zantedeschia aethiopica)

Leaves and rhizomes can cause burning and swelling to mouth and throat.

Crown of Thorns (euphorbia milii splendens)

Sap is irritating to skin and eyes.

Cyclamen (cylcamen persicum)

Ingesting the bulb can cause intense stomach cramps.

Dieffenbachia (dieffenbachia spp.)

All parts can cause burning of the mouth and swelling of the tongue, interfere with breathing and can cause severe choking.

Donkeytail (sedum morganianum)

All parts can cause digestive problems and respiratory depression.

Elephant Ear (colocasia spp.)

All parts can cause burning of the mouth and throat and digestive problems

English Ivy (hedera helix)

Leaves can cause difficult breathing and possible coma.

Flamingo Flower (anthurium spp.)

All parts can cause severe irritation to mouth, throat and stomach.

Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla)

Leaves and buds can cause digestive and breathing problems.

Jerusalem Cherry (solanum pseudocapsicum)

Very toxic! All parts can cause digestive problems, circulatory and respiratory depression, loss of sensation and death.

Lantana (lantana spp.)

Green berries are highly toxic! They can cause stomach and intestinal irritation, muscular weakness, circulatory collapse and death.

Milk Bush (euphorbia trigona)

Sap is irritating to skin and eyes, causes swelling to tongue, mouth and throat.

Mistletoe (phoradendron serotinum)

Berries are highly toxic!

Oleander (nerium oleander)

All parts are extremely toxic! A single leaf is potentially lethal. Symptoms include dizziness, drowsiness, increased pulse rate, cold extremities, abdominal pain, nausea and weakness. Get help immediately!

Philodendron (philodendron spp.)

Leaves and stems can cause burning of the mouth and throat, and digestive upset.

Poinsettia (euphorbia pulcherrima)

Sap can cause irritation of the mouth, throat and eyes.

Sedum (sedum acre)

All parts can cause digestive upset, weakness and respiratory distress.

Poisonous Bulbs

The following is a list of some plants that can be dangerous. If you are ever unsure of a plant or its properties then call your local poison centre immediately.

Autumn Crocus (colchicum autumnale )

Very toxic! All parts, especially bulbs can cause irregular heartbeat, confusion, nausea, weakness and death.

Daffodil, Narcissus (narcissus spp.)

Ingesting the bulb can cause digestive problems, trembling and convulsions. May be fatal!

Hyacinth (hyacinth orientalis)

Ingesting the bulb can cause stomach cramps and digestive problems.

Squill (scilla spp.)

Very toxic! Ingesting the bulb can cause nausea, abdominal pain, confusion, irregular heartbeat, convulsions and death.

Snow Drop (ornithogalum umvellatum)

All parts can cause depression, digestive upset, labored breathing, rapid pulse and death.

Tulip (tulip spp.)

Ingesting the bulb can cause digestive upset.