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Poisonous
Houseplants (click here for printable PDF)
Alocasia species
Common names: Elepant's Ear, Cabeza de Burro, Malanga de
Jardín, Taro
Description: Erect perennial with long stemmed,
spearhead-shaped leaves. Flowers appear on a greenish stem.
Toxic Part: The leaves and stems are injurious.
Symptoms: Chewing of plant part causes a painful burning
sensation of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Angel Wings (see
Caladium bicolor)
Common names: Caladium, Angel Wings, Heart of Jesus
Description: Showy, variegated, heart-shaped leaves. Color
may vary from white to orange or red depending on species.
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious when ingested.
Symptoms: Intense irritation of the lips, mouth and throat.
Calla Lily (see
Zantedeschia aethiopica)
Candelabra Cactus (see
Euphorbia lacteal)
Dieffenbachia
species
Common Names: Dumbcane, Dumb Plant
Description: Tall, erect plants with large oblong leaves
splotched with ivory markings
Toxic Part: Leaf
Symptoms: Chewing on the leaf produces immediate intense pain
followed by swelling of the mouth
Elephant Ear (see
Alocasia species)
Epipremnum aureum
Common Names: Pothos, Devils' Ivy
Toxic Part: The whole plant is injurious
Symptoms: Causes diarrhea upon ingestion. Also causes
dermatitis when touched. Causes a burning sensation in the mouth
when eaten.
Euphorbia species:
E. lacteal:
Common Names: Candelabra Cactus
Description: Many-branched succulent, spiny shrub or tree
with milky sap and wing-like spiny ridges.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems and milky sap
Symptoms: When ingested, causes severe irritation of the
mouth, throat and skin; temporary blindness; vomiting; diarrhea; and
stomach pain.
E. marginata
Common Names: Snow-on-the-Mountain
Description: Tall annual herb with milky juice, growing up to
three feet in height. Leaves are lance-shaped and smooth, bordered
by conspicuous white margins. Flowers are bordered with whorl of
white petal-like leaves. Fruit is three-celled, three-lobed
capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stems, and milky sap
Symptoms: When touched, causes blistering of the skin. When
ingested causes severe irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach;
nausea; abdominal pain; fainting; and diarrhea.
E. pulcherrima
Common Names: Poinsettia, Christmas Flower
Description: Large green stem leaves and smaller but showy
red, pink or yellow leaves surrounding the flowers. Fruit is a
three-celled, three-lobed capsule.
Toxic Parts: Leaves, stem, and milky sap
Symptoms: When touched, causes irritant dermatitis. If
ingested, may cause gastritis.
Jerusalem Cherry (see
Solanum pseudocapsicum)
Poinsettia (see
Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Philodendron species
Common Names: Philodendron
Description: Climbing vines with aerial roots. Leaves are
large and variable, the most common being heart-shaped.
Toxic Part: Leaves
Symptoms: When ingested causes painful burning of the lips,
mouth, tongue, and throat. Contact dermatitis is common.
Solanum psedudocapsicum
Common Names: Jerusalem Cherry, Coral
Description: Mostly herbs or shrubs. Are often spiny, hairy
or have stinging hairs. Berries are black, orange, yellow or
red.
Toxic Part: Entire plant, especially the berries.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes gastric irritation, scratchy
feeling in the throat, fever and diarrhea.
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Common Names: Calla, Calla Lily, Lirio Cala
Description: Smooth-edged arrowhead-shaped leaves which grow
on long stalks. Flower may be white or green.
Toxic Part: Leave are injurious.
Symptoms: When ingested, causes intense burning of the lips
and mouth. Also a direct skin irritant.
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