Household and landscape plants have become one of the nation's leading causes of poison exposures in children. Symptoms of plant poisonings can range from skin irritation, vomiting and diarrhea, to delirium and even death in some rare cases. It is important that you know the names and locations of all the plants in your home and yard. It is extremely difficult for the poison center to identify plants over the telephone and could cause serious complications if a mistake is made. Label all house plants on their containers and note whether or not they are poisonous. Keep a list of all house plants and garden plants available so that babysitters, grandparents and other guardians also have access to this information. If you cannot identify a plant, take a clipping to the nearest nursery or florist for assistance.Use the lists in the sections above to identify which plants are poisonous and non-poisonous, and to keep a record of which ones you have in and around your home. This list is by no means “all inclusive” and you should not assume a plant not listed is nontoxic. If you do not find a particular plant on this list, call the poison center.
The list of plants below are considered "safe". Although these plants are not considered poisonous, there are still potential mechanical dangers with their ingestion, including choking, injury to the mouth and throat (for example, from pine needles). If insecticides have been recently applied, these products, rather then the plant itself, can result in a toxic reaction. This list is not complete. If you have questions about any plant, take it to the nearest nursery for identification and call the Poison Information Center for further assistance.
The plants found in our list should be considered potentially poisonous. This list does NOT include all poisonous plants found in Florida. The potential toxicity or effects expected from each plant is indicated by the numbers listed behind the plant's name and refer to the categories in the following table.
Categories of Plant Toxicity
Mild toxicity. If ingested in small amounts, these plants will probably not cause any toxic symptoms. Symptoms are usually limited to mild throat irritation, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Irritants. These plants contain calcium oxalate crystals, which may cause an intense stinging or burning sensation if ingested or upon skin contact. These symptoms usually will resolve with time. Treatment consists of giving fluids to drink if ingested or thorough washing with skin contact. Large ingestions can result in swelling of the throat and mouth which can potentially result in problems breathing.
Dermatitis. Handling these plants (especially in sensitive individuals) can cause skin irritation and rash. The juice and sap of these plants are very irritating and can cause pain if allowed to penetrate cuts or wounds.
Major Toxicity. Ingestion of these plants can result in severe toxic reactions and injury to major organs like the heart, kidney, liver and nervous system. They can also result in other life threatening symptoms like seizures or hallucinations. Although these effects are usually seen with large ingestions of plant material, consuming small amounts should also be considered potentially dangerous.
Possibly Toxic. Information on the toxicity of these plants is limited or not well documented. Ingestion of small amounts of plant material is not considered to be a high risk for toxicity.
Toxic to Animals. These plants known to be toxic to animals.
For further information on any of the plants listed below, contact the poison information center. If you cannot identify a particular plant, take it to the nearest nursery for assistance in identification.
Never eat any part of an unknown plant or mushroom, even if cooked. Teach children never to put leaves, stems, bark, seeds, nuts, or berries from any plant into their mouths
Teach children to recognize poison ivy, oak and sumac
Keep seeds and bulbs away from children and cooking or food storage areas. Label and store them out of sight and reach of children
Do not eat wild plants (even if cooked)
Identify and keep all poisonous house plants out of reach of young children
Do not assume a plant is safe to eat because a bird or other wildlife has eaten it
Do not rely on cooking to destroy toxic chemicals in plants. Never use anything prepared from nature as a medicine or "tea"
Keep weed and bug killers in their original containers with proper labels. NEVER put them into bottles, cups or bowls where they could be mistaken for food or drink. Always read the instructions carefully before using
Wash thoroughly after using pesticides and herbicides. ALL chemicals should be locked up and stored out of children's reach. Carefully rinse all containers before throwing them away
Avoid smoke from burning plants
Remember...there are no good "rules of thumb" for distinguishing edible from poisonous plants
For Poisoning Emergencies Call 1-800-222-1222 V/TTY
