Poisonous plants in gardens and homes

Many of us have small gardens or even potted plants at home, to add a touch of greenery and, as we hope, to purify the city air.  Houseplants play several beneficial roles in our home environment. They provide visual interest to the home, purify the air, and may be edible or medicinal. What many of us may not know, however, is that some of these plants can be poisonous!

Toxic plants can be a hazard to children and pets, as well as to elderly persons with dementia. Though  it would be better  to keep all plants out of the reach of those who might crush, eat, or taste them, it is not always possible to prevent accidental encounters. If you’re worried your loved ones may ingest your houseplants, you may want to keep the plants in this article out of your house.

Poisoning can occur from:

  • Eating or touching leaves
  • Ingesting berries, blossoms, or roots
  • Skin contact with sap or juices
  • Eating soil
  • Drinking water from plant tray

Most nurseries don’t provide warning labels on their potted plants noting possible toxicity. Before you purchase that house or garden plant, learn which common plants can pose the biggest threat to the more vulnerable members of your home.

Here are a few plants that can cause major problems, and in severe cases, death, if ingested.

1. Dieffenbachia,  “Dumb Cane”

This is  the common houseplant with an uncommon name. Chewing on the leaves of this low maintenance plant can lead to severe swelling and burning of the mouth and tongue, which can in turn lead to difficulty breathing and in severe cases, death.

2.  Spathipyllyum, “Peace Lily”

These plants are  excellent air purifiers. Like philodendrons and pothos, however, they can cause painful symptoms and sometimes death if ingested by humans or animals. They  can cause burning and swelling of lips, mouth, and tongue, difficulty speaking or swallowing, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.

3.  Philodendron (called by the same name)

In humans, even small children, ingesting philodendron usually has only mild side effects, including a dermatitis reaction and the swelling of the mouth and digestive tract. In rare cases or after ingesting large amounts, there have been fatalities in children.

4. Pothos,  “Money Plant”

Pothos is one of the best houseplants for removing pollutants from the air. It is also easy to propagate from cuttings. Pothos is considered to be only mildly harmful in small quantities, but can produce uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects in animals and people. It can cause burning of the mouth, skin irritation, swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, vomiting, and diarrhea.

5. Zamioculas,  or “ZZ” plant

6.  Caladium, or “Bleeding Heart”

7. Dracaena fragrans, “Corn Plant”

8. Asparagus aethiopicus, “Asparagus fern”

9. Nerium, “Oleander” (both pink and yellow )

 This plant looks delicate and innocent, but is so toxic that even ingesting honey made from its nectar can produce symptoms. Deaths in adult humans have been reported with as little as one leaf eaten, but the majority of deaths occur when very large amounts are inested. Children are more susceptible.

10. Sansevieria,  “Mother-in-law’s Tongue”

This plant is not as toxic as the others, but produces short-lasting symptoms such as mouth pain, salivation, and some nausea. In rare instances, it can produce a dermatological reaction, but is mainly toxic only if ingested.

Here’s a ready reckoner that I found on the net, and some suggestions for growing plants safely:

Plants and Their Toxicity to Humans and Pets

Plant
Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Cats
Philodendron
Mildly
Yes
Yes
Pothos
Yes
Yes
Yes
Arrowhead
Mildly
Mildly
mildly
Lily
Moderately
Moderately
Yes
Peace Lily
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dieffenbachia
Moderately
Moderately
Moderately
Oleander
Extremely
Extremely
Extremely
Caladium
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Moderately
Moderately
Moderately
Ivy
Mildly
Yes
Yes

Here are some ways of reducing exposure to plant toxins:

  • Keep plants out of reach or in rooms where children and pets are not allowed.
  • Maintain plants regularly and keep debris cleaned up.
  • Label pots with the plant name and whether or not it is toxic.
  • Wear gloves while handling or wash hands immediately after handling plants that could irritate skin or eyes.
  • Don’t discard plant clippings where they can be easily accessed.
  • Teach children not to touch plants.
  • Trim plants to prevent children and pets from accessing vines. The plants will still reward you with fullness and foliage that purifies the air.
  • Don’t forget that plants  outside can be dangerous to outdoor pets. Hang them high on porches or plant-stands.
  • Always keep fresh water for pets so that they aren’t tempted to drink from plant trays. Toxins can leach into the water.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Garudachar palya: The “hot spot” in Whitefield’s IT Hub

Examining the heat island effect in densely built-up Garudachar Palya ward in Whitefield’s IT Hub, which also has limited tree cover.

Garudachar Palya is part of Mahadevapura constituency, with an area of 6.5 sq km, which includes four revenue villages — Garudachar Palya, Hoodi, Seegehalli, and Nallurahalli. These villages have stayed mostly the same, while the city has expanded around them with more organised development from the BDA. This mismatch has led to issues like narrow village lanes becoming crowded with traffic, as they’re now used as shortcuts to bypass main roads. Looking at population growth, between 2011 and 2024, the ward has seen an estimated increase of 62.24%. This rapid growth adds to the existing strain on infrastructure. Ward no…

Similar Story

Saving Dwarka Forest: Citizens approach apex court to protect forest land near Delhi airport

Delhi’s Dwarka Forest has seen brazen destruction thanks to a railway redevelopment project. A recent SC stay order has raised hopes.

According to a recent World Bank report, India presently accounts for a meagre 1.8% of the global forest cover. Even more concerning is the fact that an enormous ‘46,759 acres of forest-land have been sanctioned for mining’ across the country, over the course of the last five years, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) itself. According to many ace climate scientists and researchers, our planet has already hit “the tipping point”. In this backdrop, the people’s struggle to save Dwarka Forest, one of the last remaining natural forest lands in a choking capital city, is a…