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Poisonous Plants
We've done a lot of work to make the information here as accurate as we can, but if you find anything wrong or missing, please contact us.
If you're not sure about a particular plant do try to check for yourself - preferably not by giving it a quick nibble and seeing what happens!
When seeking medical assistance as a result of poisoning always take a piece of the plant with you. Do not attempt to make the victim vomit.
Names marked with an asterisk* mean that the plant's dangerous - possibly fatal in some cases.
Plants are listed in alphabetical order of botanical name. If you want to find one by its common name, press Ctrl-F and you'll get a box that lets you search the page.
Click on any picture to see it full size.
Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abrus precatorius |
Jequirity
Crab's eye Rosary pea 'John Crow' bead Precatory bean Indian licorice Akar saga Giddee giddee Jumbie bead |
seeds
|
||
Acalypha |
Chenille plant
Copperleaf |
sap | ||
Acokanthera oblongifolia |
Poison arrow plant
Bushmen's poison |
sap | ||
Aconitum | Monkshood | all parts; toxin can be absorbed through the skin* | ||
Actaea |
Baneberry
Bugbane Black snakeroot |
all parts, especially berries*; toxin can be absorbed through the skin | ||
Adenium obesum | Desert rose | sap | ||
Aesculus hippocastanum | Horse-chestnut | all parts | ||
Ageratina altissima | White Snakeroot | all parts* | ||
Aglaonema | Chinese evergreen | all parts | ||
Agrostemma githago | Corncockle | all parts | ||
Allamanda |
Yellow Bell
Golden Trumpet Buttercup Flower |
all parts | ||
Allium | Onions and garlic | all parts poisonous to dogs & cats | ||
Alocasia | Taro | all parts | ||
Aloe | Aloe | sap of leaves | ||
Amaryllis belladona |
Belladonna lily
Naked lady |
sap & bulb | ||
Anabaena circinalis Anacystis cynea | Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) | contaminated water | ||
Anthurium |
Flamingo flower
Boy flower |
all parts | ||
Apocynum spp. |
Dogbane
Indian hemp |
all parts | ||
Arisaema | Cobra-lily | all parts | ||
Arum |
Cuckoo-pint
Lords-and-ladies |
all parts | ||
Asparagus
(except officinalis) |
Asparagus fern | berries | ||
Atropa belladonna | Deadly nightshade | all parts, especially berries* | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Brugmansia | Angel’s trumpet | leaves, flowers & seeds | ||
Brunfelsia |
Yesterday, today and
tomorrow Lady of the night |
all parts, especially berries & seeds | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Caladium |
Angel’s wings
Elephant ear Heart of Jesus |
all parts | ||
Calla palustris |
Water arum
Bog arum Marsh calla |
all parts | ||
Catheranthus Roseussyn. Vinca rosea syn. Lochnera rosea |
Rosy periwinkle
Madagascar periwinkle Cape periwinkle Old-maid |
all parts | ||
Cerbera odollam |
Suicide tree
Othalanga Pong-pong |
nut* | ||
Chelidonium majus | Greater celandine | all parts, especially root* | ||
Chrysanthemum X morifolium
syn. Dendranthema X grandiflorum |
Chrysanthemum
Mum Chrysanth |
leaves, flowers | ||
Cicuta sp. |
Water hemlock
Cowbane Poison parsnip |
all parts, especially root* | ||
Colchicum |
Autumn crocus
Meadow saffron Naked lady |
all parts* | ||
Colocasia esculenta |
Taro
Dasheen Arrowroot Elephant ear |
all parts when unprocessed | ||
Conium maculatum |
Hemlock
Poison hemlock |
all parts* | ||
Convallaria majalis | Lily-of-the-valley | all parts | ||
Coriaria |
Redoul
Deu Huique |
berries* | ||
Cycadophyta | Cycads | unprocessed seeds | ||
Cytisus | Broom | leaves, twigs, flowers, seeds | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Daphne mezereum |
Daphne
Spurge laurel Mezereon |
all parts, especially berries* | ||
Datura |
Nightshade
Thorn-apple |
all parts* | ||
Datura stramonium |
Datura
Jimson weed Angel's trumpet Devil's weed Thorn-apple Stinkweed Jamestown weed Moonflower Tolguacha |
all parts* | ||
Delphinium
(including Consolida) |
Larkspur | all parts, especially young plants & seeds* | ||
Dicentra cucullaria | Dutchman's breeches | foliage & roots poisonous | ||
Dichapetalum cymosum |
Gifblaar
Poison leaf |
poisonous (livestock & associated predators) | ||
Dieffenbachia |
Dumb cane
Leopard lily |
all parts | ||
Digitalis | Foxglove | foliage, flowers & seeds* | ||
Dracunculus |
Dragon arum
Black arum Voodoo lily Snake lily Stink lily Black dragon Dragonwort Ragons Drakondia |
root when unprocessed | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Echium |
Viper's bugloss
Patterson's curse Tower of jewels |
all parts | ||
Epipremnum |
Devil’s ivy
Pothos Silver vine Money plant Centipede tongavine Solomon islands' ivy Philodendron (error) |
all parts | ||
Erythrina herbacea |
Coral tree
Coral bean Cherokee bean Red cardinal Cardinal spear |
all parts, mainly seeds | ||
Euonymus |
Spindle
Spindle tree |
all parts
|
||
Euphorbia
(including E. pulcherrima) |
Spurge
(including Poinsettia) |
all parts | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Fungi |
Mushrooms and
toadstools |
fruiting bodies of many
species, some* |
||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Gaultheria
(syn.Pernettya) |
leaves, nectar, berries* | |||
Gelsemium sempervirens |
Yellow jessamine
Yellow jasmine Carolina jessamine Carolina jasmine Evening trumpet flower Gelsemium Woodbine |
all parts* | ||
Gloriosa superba |
Flame lily
Fire lily Gloriosa lily Glory lily Superb lily Climbing lily Creeping lily |
poisonous | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Hedera | Ivy | leaves and berries | ||
Helleborus niger |
Christmas rose
Black hellebore |
all parts | ||
Hippeastrum | Amaryllis | bulb | ||
Hippomane mancinella |
Manchineel
Manchioneel |
all parts* | ||
Homeria | Cape tulips | all parts | ||
Hyacinthoides | Bluebell | all parts | ||
Hyacinthus | Hyacinth | all parts | ||
Hydrangea | Hortensia | all parts | ||
Hyoscyamus |
Henbane
Stinking nightshade |
all parts* | ||
Hypericum perforatum |
St John's wort
Perforate St John’s wort Titton's weed Klamath weed |
poisonous to livestock | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Ilex aquifolium |
Holly
European holly Christmas holly Mexican holly |
berries | ||
Ipomoea |
Morning glory
Moonflower Bindweed |
seeds | ||
Iris |
Iris
Flag Iris |
rhizome | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Jacobaea vulgaris
syn. Senecio jacobaea |
Ragwort | poisonous to livestock | ||
Juniperus sabina |
Savin juniper
Savin |
all parts | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Kalanchoe tubiflora |
Mother of millions
Mother of thousands Chandelier plant |
poisonous to livestock | ||
Kalmia |
Mountain laurel
Calico bush Spoonwood Ivybush Sheep laurel Lambkill Clamoun |
all parts (livestock but not small household pets) | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Laburnum | Laburnum | all parts, especially seeds* | ||
+Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ |
Adam's laburnum
Broom laburnum |
all parts, especially seeds* | ||
Lagenaria |
Calabash
Bottle gourd |
poisonous | ||
Lantana |
Lantana
Ham 'n eggs Bacon and eggs Spanish flag |
all parts poisonous
to livestock |
||
Lathyrus sativus |
Indian pea
Grass pea Blue sweet pea Chickling vetch Indian pea Indian vetch White vetch |
seeds (cumulative) | ||
Leucothoe |
Black laurel
Doghobble Sweetbells |
leaves, nectar | ||
Ligustrum | Privet | leaves and berries | ||
Lilium | Lily |
poisonous, including pollen,
especially to cats* |
||
Lobelia
except L. erinus |
Lobelia
Asthma Weed Indian Tobacco Pukeweed Vomitwort |
all parts | ||
Lolium temulentum |
Darnel
Cockle Poison ryegrass |
seeds and seed heads | ||
Lupinus |
Lupin
Lupine |
seeds | ||
Lysichiton | Skunk cabbage |
poisonous,
especially to cats |
||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Malus domestica | Apple | seeds mildly poisonous | ||
Mandragora | Mandrake | all parts | ||
Manihot esculenta |
Cassava
Manioc Yuca |
roots, leaves poisonous
in unprocessed form |
||
Melia azedarach |
White cedar
Persian lilac Chinaberry Bead tree Lunumidella Ceylon cedar Malai vembu |
leaves, berries* | ||
Menispermum | Moonseed | all parts* | ||
Mirabilis |
Marvel of Peru
Four o’clock plant |
seeds | ||
Monstera deliciosa |
Swiss cheese plant
Cheese plant Ceriman Fruit salad plant Monster fruit Monsterio delicio Monstereo Mexican breadfruit Monstera |
all parts, especially unripe fruit (ripe fruit edible) | ||
Myristica fragrans | Nutmeg | poisonous to humans in high doses, to animals in low doses | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Narcissus | Daffodil | bulbs* and stems | ||
Nerium oleander | Oleander | all parts, including smoke when burning* | ||
Nicotiana | Tobacco plant | all parts* | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Oenanthe crocata | Hemlock water-dropwort | all parts* | ||
Ornithogalum |
Chincherinchee
Star of Bethlehem Sun star Pregnant onion False sea onion Snake flower Bath asparagus Prussian asparagus |
all parts, especially bulbs | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Papaver somniferum | Opium poppy | sap | ||
Parthenocissus |
Virginia creeper
Japanese creeper Boston ivy Sevenleaf creeper Thicket creeper Woodbine Grape woodbine |
berries | ||
Passiflora caerulea |
Hardy passion flower
Blue passion flower Common passion flower |
leaves | ||
Phaseolus lunatus |
Lima bean
Butter bean |
seeds when raw | ||
Phaseolus vulgaris | Kidney bean | seeds when raw | ||
Philodendron | all parts | |||
Physostigma venenosum |
Calabar bean
Ordeal bean |
seeds | ||
Phytolacca |
Pokeweed
American nightshade Cancer jalap Coakum Garget Inkberry Pigeon berry Pocan bush Redweed |
leaves (other parts debated) by eating and entering by a cut in the skin | ||
Podophyllum | Mayapple | all parts | ||
Polygonatum |
Solomon’s seal
King Solomon's seal |
berries | ||
Polyscias | Aralia | all parts | ||
Prunus laurocerasus |
Cherry laurel
English laurel Laurel |
all parts except flesh of berry | ||
Prunus lusitanica | Portugal laurel | seed kernels | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Quercus | Oak | leaves & acorns poisonous to livestock (except pigs) | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Ranunculus |
Buttercup
Spearwort Water crowfoot Lesser celandine |
poisonous to livestock | ||
Rhamnus
including Frangula |
Alder buckthorn
Buckthorn |
berries | ||
Rheum rhaponticum | Rhubarb | leaves | ||
Rhododendron | pollen & nectar; whole plant poisonous to livestock | |||
Ricinus communis | Castor oil plant | all parts, especially seeds | ||
Robinia pseudoacacia |
Locust
Black locust False acacia |
all parts, especially seed-pods, except flowers | ||
Ruta | Rue | all parts* | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Sambucus
except S. nigra |
Nightshade
Horsenettle |
green parts & berries* | ||
Scilla | Squill | all parts | ||
Solanum
most species |
Nightshade
Horsenettle |
green parts & berries* | ||
Solanum dulcamara |
Woody nightshade
Bittersweet nightshade Bitter nightshade Amara Dulcis Fellenwort Poisonberry Scarlet berry Snakeberry Violet bloom |
berries* | ||
Solanum lycopersicum | Tomato | foliage | ||
Solanum nigrum |
Black nightshade
Duscle Garden nightshade Hound's berry Petty morel Wonder berry Small-fruited black nightshade Popolo |
all parts, especially unripe berries* | ||
Solanum pseudocapsicum
syn. Solanum karstenii syn. Solanum microcarpum |
Jerusalem cherry
Madeira winter cherry Winter cherry Christmas cherry |
leaves, berries | ||
Solanum tuberosum | Potato | foliage and green-tinged tubers | ||
Spartium junceum |
Spanish broom
Weaver's broom |
all parts, especially seeds | ||
Spathiphyllum |
Peace lily
Spath lily |
leaves | ||
Strychnos nux-vomica | Strychnine Tree | seeds and bark* | ||
Symphoricarpos |
Snowberry
Waxberry |
berries | ||
Symphytum |
Comfrey
Healing herb Blackwort Bruisewort Wallwort Gum plant |
all parts | ||
Syngonium |
Arrowhead plant
Arrowhead vine Goosefoot vine Arrowhead philodendron Goosefoot Trileaf wonder African evergreen |
all parts | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Tabernaemontana |
Crepe jasmine
Crape jasmine Milkwood Pinwheel Flower Nero's Crown |
sap | ||
Tamus communis | Black bryony | all parts | ||
Taxus baccata | Yew | all parts except flesh of berries, seeds* | ||
Toxicodendron vernicifluum
syn. Rhus verniciflua |
Japanese lacquer tree
Japanese sumach |
sap | ||
Tulipa | Tulip | all parts | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Veratrum | False hellebore | all parts, especially root and rhizomes | ||
Viscum album |
Mistletoe
European mistletoe Common mistletoe |
all parts | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Wisteria |
Wisteria
Wistaria |
seeds | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Xanthium | Cocklebur | seedlings and seedlings poisonous to livestock | ||
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Botanical name | Common name | Poisonous part/s | Illustration | |
Zantedeschia |
Arum lily
Calla lily |
all parts* | ||
Zigadenus |
Deathcamas
Star lily |
all parts* |