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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*