Botanical Name | Common Name | Toxic parts | Known symptoms of poisoning |
Caladium bicolor
cultivars |
Caladium | Leaves, roots, stem | Burning & irritation of the mouth & lips |
Cyclamen sp. | Cyclamen | Tuber, roots | |
Dieffenbachia seguine & D. maculata | Dumb Cane | All parts | Intense burning and irritation of the tongue. Tongue can swell leading to choking. CAN BE FATAL |
Philodendron scandens & others | Philodendron | All parts | Painful burning & swelling of the mouth |
Botanical Name | Common Name | Toxic parts | Known symptoms of poisoning |
Aloe vera | Aloe vera | All parts | Eczema, cathartic (purging by irritation of the large intestine), nephritis |
Brugmansia candida
& cultivars |
Angel's Trumpet | All parts | FATAL |
Rhododendron cultivars | Azalea & Rhododendron | All parts | FATAL. Nausea and vomiting, depression, difficult breathing, prostration & coma. |
Colchicum autumnale | Autumn Crocus | All parts, esp.Bulbs | Vomiting and nervous excitement. POTENTIALLY FATAL. |
Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust | Bark, foliage, sprouts | Children suffered nausea, weakness & depression following chewing of bark and seeds. |
Ranunculus | Buttercup | All parts | Irritant juices may severely injure the digestive system. |
Zantedeschia aethiopica | Calla Lily | Leaves, rhizome | |
Ricinus communis | Castor Oil Plant | Seeds | Known to cause fatalities from a single seed. Adult lethal dose is 1 or 2 seeds. FATAL |
Prunus species &
cultivars |
Cherry | Twigs, foliage | FATAL. Contains a compound that releases cyanide when eaten. Gasping, excitement and prostration are common symptoms. Also lethargy, sweating, vomiting, coma. |
Abutilon | Chinese Lantern | ||
Consolida ambigua | Consolida | ||
Cotoneaster species | Cotoneaster | Berries | |
Daphne species | Daphne | Berries | FATAL. A few berries can kill a child. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, mouth irritation, salivation, thirst, kidney congestion. |
Narcissus species & cultivars | Daffodil, Jonquils | All parts, esp. Bulbs | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, abdominal pain. MAY BE FATAL |
Hedera helix | English Ivy | All parts | Blistering, laboured breathing, convulsions, diarrhoea, vomiting, paralysis. FATAL |
Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | All parts | Large amounts cause dangerously irregular heartbeat & pulse, digestive upset & mental confusion. MAY BE FATAL |
Ilex aquifolium | Holly | Leaves, berries | Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting. |
Hyacinthus sp. | Hyacinth | Bulb | |
Hydrangea | Hydrangea | Leaves, flower buds | Abdominal pain, lethargy, gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhoea, coma. |
Iris some sp. & cultivars | Iris | Rhizomes, leaves | Severe digestive upset, blistering. |
Lantana camara | Lantana | Green berries | FATAL. Affects lungs, kidneys, heart & nervous system. |
Delphinium | Larkspur | Young plant, seeds | Digestive upset, nervous excitement, depression. MAY BE FATAL. |
Convallaria majalis | Lily-of-the-Valley | Leaves, flowers | Irregular heartbeat & pulse, accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion |
Lobelia - some species | Lobelia | All parts | Pain, sweating, vomiting, paralysis, collapse, coma. FATAL. |
Solanum pseudocapsicum | Madiera Cherry, Jerusalem Cherry or Winter Cherry | All parts | Abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, vomiting. |
Quercus sp. | Oak | Foliage, acorns | Symptoms are slow to appear, may take several days - weeks & affects kidneys. Large amount required for poisoning to occur, can lead to death. |
Nerium oleander | Oleander | All parts | FATAL. Smoke also known to be toxic when burnt. Abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, coma. |
Euphorbia pulcherrima | Poinsettia | All parts | Exzema, nausea, vomiting |
Ligustrum species | Privet | Berries | Diarrhoea, vomiting, gastroenteritis. |
Lathyrus odoratus | Sweet Pea | Seeds | |
Tanacetum vulgare | Tansy | All parts | FATAL. Cumulative poison leading to convulsions and death. |
Datura stramonium | Thorn Apple,
(Jimson Weed) |
All parts | Abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence & coma. Common cause of poisoning. Has proved FATAL. |
Tulipa - some species | Tulip | Bulb, leaves, stem. | Exzema, weakness, laboured breathing, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting. |
Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Virginia Creeper | Berries, leaves | Vomiting. FATAL. |
Melia azedarach | White Cedar | Berries | FATAL. 6-8 ripe fruit has caused death in children. May be rapid or some days later. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe thirst, cold sweat, sleepiness, convulsions. |
Wistaria species & cultivars | Wistaria (Wisteria) | Seeds, pods | Mild to sever digestive upset. Many children are poisoned by this plant. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, diarrhoea, collapse. |
Botanical Name | Common Name | Toxic parts | Known symptoms of poisoning |
Malus cultivars | Apple | Seeds | |
Asparagus officinalis | Asparagus | Raw young shoots | |
Solanum melongena | Eggplant | All parts except fruit | |
Solanum tuberosum | Potato | Sprouts and green parts. Also fruits. | Abdominal pain, confusion, drowsiness, hallucination, gastroenteritis, headache, vomiting, trembling. FATAL. |
Rheum X cultorum | Rhubarb | Leaves (blades) | Large amounts of raw or cooked leaves can cause convulsions, coma, followed rapidly by death. CAN BE FATAL |
Prunus species & cultivars | Stone fruit
(Apricot, Cherry, Peach, Plum) |
Leaves, twigs & Seeds | FATAL. Contains a compound that releases cyanide when eaten. Gasping, excitement and prostration are common symptoms. Also lethargy, sweating, vomiting, coma. |
Lycopersicon esculentum | Tomato | Green parts |
Common Name | Botanical Name | Common Name | Botanical Name |
Abelia | Abelia grandiflora | Gum Tree | Eucalyptus species |
African Violet | Saintpaulia ionantha | Heavenly Bamboo | Nandina domestica |
Aster | Aster species | Hibiscus | Hibiscus cultivars & species |
Bamboo | Bambusa, Phyllostachys & related genera | Honeysuckle | Lonicera species |
Begonia | Begonia cultivars | Hoya | Hoya species |
Bird's Nest Fern | Asplenium species | Kalanchoe | Kalanchoe species |
Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea cultivars | Magnolia | Magnolia species & cultivars |
Busy Lizzy | Impatiens species & cultivars | Norfolk Island Pine | Araucaria heterophylla |
California Poppy | Eschscholzia californica | Petunia | Petunia cultivars |
Camellia | Camellia species | Rose | Rosa species & cultivars |
Carnation | Dianthus caryophyllus | Spider Plant | Chlorophytum comosum |
Croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Umbrella Tree | Schefflera species |
Dahlia | Dahlia species & cultivars | Violets | Viola species |
Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Wandering Jew | Tradescantia species |
Gardenia | Gardenia species | Weeping Fig | Ficus benjamina |
Gloxinia | Gloxinia species | Weeping Willow | Salix babylonica |